Reunion proceedings and history of the regiment

'LI E> RARY

OF THE

U N I VERSITY
OF ILLINOIS

S'/S-

74-

ILLINOIS HISTORICAL SURVEY

SOCIETY

Seventy -Tourth Illinois
Volunteer Infantry:

Reunion Proceedings

AND

History of the Regiment.

W. P. Lamb, Book and Job Printer,

Rocfcford, Illinois,

1903

7

Committee appointed by the Society of the Seventy- Fourth
Illinois Volunteers presents this volume, containing papers
on the campaigns and services of the regiment, read at its
various reunions. Each paper was prepared by a member who
' was an active participant in the campaign of which he writes, and,
, together, they cover the entire service of the regiment, and have a
value and charm that always come from personal knowledge and per-
sonal reminiscence of great events.

With these papers we have incorporated the proceedings of
those reunions at which they were read, so far as they were pre-
served in the pamphlets published at the time. Many of the speeches,
and all of the badinage and by-play, that contributed so much to the
pleasure of those reunions and their accompanying camp fires, were
impromptu, were not taken doivn at the time, nor written out after-
ivards, and so were lost.

The first reunion was held at Rockford, Illinois, on the twenty-
first anniversary of our muster into the U. S. service, and there

A.

were present 167. The last reunion was held on June loth, 1903,
the thirty-eighth anniversary of our muster out, and there were
present 75. The decreased attendance was due, not to any lack of
interest, for that has increased with the growing years, but to our
rt- constantly lessening numbers; and while some of us are still on duly,
we wish to put in a more permanent form what has been preserved
of the proceedings of our regimental reunions, and especially of our
regimental history. To make good that wish this volume is pub-
lished.

JOHN H. SH ERR ATT,

HOSMER P. HOLLAND,

JOHN W- BEATSON.

Rockford, Illinois,

September qth,

Proceedings Pirst Reunion

September 3rd and 4th, 1553, at RocKford, Illinois.

PRESENT 167

BUSINESS MEETING,

On Monday, the 3d inst., at 3 o'clock p. m., the regiment
was called to order by Robert Simpson, chairman of the com-
mittee of arrangements, at the speaker's stand on the Fair
Grounds, where the comrades were assembled.

Lieut. John H. Nye was elected chairman, and Andrew J.
Guilford secretary, of the meeting. Lieut. Nye, in a few ap-
propriate remarks, thanked the regiment for the honor conferred
in selecting him to preside, and then, with military promptness,
requested that business be proceeded with.

An informal and general discussion was then had upon the
question of time and place of holding another reunion of the
regiment, when, upon motion of C. H. C. Bagwell, it was unani-
mously resolved that the regiment should hold a reunion upon
the Fair Grounds at Rockford, 111., or at some other suitable
place, to be designated by a committee selected at this meeting,
and that such reunion he held Sept. 4, 1884.

It was then resolved to effect a permanent organization, and
the following officers were elected:

President — Robert Simpson.
Vice-President — John W. Beatson.
Secretary — John H. Sherratt.
Treasurer — Marcus S. Parmele.

The expediency of publishing, in pamphlet form, the pro-
ceedings of this reunion was then discussed, and it was unani-
mously determined to undertake such publication.

6 FIRST REUNION OF THE

Comrades Hosmer P. Holland, Robert Simpson and John
H. Sherratt, were then appointed a committee to take charge of
such publication, and the further duty was imposed upon them
of sending to each member of the regiment, whose address can
be ascertained, a copy of such pamphlet.

Upon motion of Hosmer P. Holland, it was then voted that
the chairman appoint an executive committee of ten, to act in
conjunction with the officers, in making arrangements for the
next reunion, and at once to ascertain and report to the secre-
tary the names and residences of absent non-resident comrades.
The chairman then appointed, as such committee the follow-
ing comrades:

Co. A — James S. Cowen.

Co. D— J. H. Douglass.

Co. C — Hosmer P. Holland.

Co. E — David Dawson.

Co. F — Christopher Ballou.

Co. G — Joseph F. Hawthorne.

Co. I— Franklin W. Fuller.

Co. H — Stanley G. Lockwood.

Co. K— John Z. Rydberg. .

Co. B— Edwin Wells.

A communication was received from G. L. Nevius Post,
G. A. R., tendering the use of its hall for the assembly of the
regiment this evening. The proffered courtesy was accepted
with thanks.

Upon motion, the meeting then adjourned, to re-assemble
at 7:00 p. m. at G. A. R. Hall, for the purpose of forming to
march and receive Gen. Philip Sidney Post, to arrive at- 7:35
p. m.; the regiment to march under the command of Lieut.
Thos. W. Cole.

At 7 p. m. the regiment (about 150 in the ranks) marched
to the Chicago & Iowa depot, under charge of Lieut. Cole and
Lieut. John Beatson, acting adjutant.

Promptly at 7:35 the train rolled up to the platform, along
which the line had been formed, and at once three cheers were
given for Gen. Post, who alighted from the cars in charge of the
committee.

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 7

He was saluted by the men, and after a short period of irre-
pressible hand shaking with their old commander, the regiment
fell into line and marched in escort to the Holland House, where
quarters had been provided for the General.

Ranks were soon after broken at G. A. R. hall, and a large
portion of the veterans returned to the Fair Grounds, where
they had a camp-fire and bivouaced for the night.

On Tuesday morning, September 4th, the camp was aroused
by Reveille at 6 a. m., and at 7 a. m. a hearty breakfast, under
the superintendence of genial Harry Plainer, chef dc cusinc — than
whom no man can brew a more inviting cup of coffee — was had
in one of the halls.

At 10 a. m. the comrades, with their many friends who had
assembled, took seats in front of the speaker's stand — hand-
somely decorated with the old flags and banner of the regi-
ment— when Hosmer P. Holland, who had been assigned by the
Committee of Arrangements to special duty, as historian, sub-
mitted the following:

HISTORY OF SEVENTY-FOURTH ILLINOIS

BY HOSMER P. HOLLAND

Comrades — Before going into the matter I have prepared for
the occasion, I wish to say a word about another thing that
struck me with great force, as I lately ran through the files of
the Rockford Register of the years 1862 to 1865. I revert to this
with all the more reason because on such a day as this, and in
fact on all public occasions, so many good things are being said
of the soldiers. I refer to the evidence presented on page after
page of those newspaper files, covering a period crowded with
events, of steadfast and unwavering support given by the good
and true people at home to their brothers at the front; a sup-
port, without which all the privations endured, all the gallant
feats of arms, all the heroic bravery of men which illuminated
those dark days, would have been fruitless.

As the Army of the Cumberland moved forward in its
march, first Louisville, then Nashville, next Murfreesboro, and
lastly Chattanooga was its base.

But behind every line which, in the strategic plan of the
general, was called the base, was another line, along which were
ranged the earnest and true men and women who were working

8 FIRST REUNION OF THE

and sustaining those who were driving a wedge into the very
heart of the Confederacy, who were helping their brothers in
the van, not alone by words of cheer, but by money and work.

And if, for the soldiers who were doing their part in the
great task set before the people of the North, it be said that
they did no more than their duty, is it fair to say that their con-
stant friends at home did less than their duty, also?

And is it not, at this day, in the heart of every survivor of
the 74th — a regiment which so often had practical proof of the
good will and active sympathy of "The Reserve" at home, — is
it not in your hearts to be just to those who were so generous to
you, and say to them, "Good friends, you too acquitted your-
selves well of the portion allotted to you in the great work given
the Nation to do; and your sacrifices, your gifts, and your con-
stancy deserve a page of history no less bright and no less sacred
than that which bears the record of march and battle.

I do not wish what I have to say at this time to be dignified
as history, under which title it is set down on the program pre-
pared for the occasion. The official record of the regiment is
embodied in the reports of the Adjutant General of the State,
and more detailed accouuts of its career are preserved in the
files of local newspapers. Each regiment of the Grand Army
however had its personal history; and though each was but one
unit in the mighty game of war, each made a certain record
which does not appear on the pages of any historian; which sur-
vives, if it all, in the memories of those who are still among the
living, or in the written records of its soldiers. Necessarily my
narrative must largely be a personal one; for, in its preparation,
my chief resource has been a journal made at the time, as events
occurred, giving my own impressions of them, supplemented by
a file of letters to a friend, with whom I corresponded during
my entire service, and which have been kindly placed at my dis-
posal, together with the files of the Rockford Register, contem-
poraneous with the war. So much by way of apology for fre-
quent use of the personal pronoun.

The 74th was mustered into service September 4th, 1862, at
Camp Fuller, Rockford, and remained at its rendezvous until
Sunday, the 28th of the same month, when, having received
orders from the war department to report at Louisville, Ky., it
marched from the camp at 10 a. m., and took cars for its desti-

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 9

nation. The journey was without notable event, and the night
of September 30th was passed by the new regiment in the streets
of Louisville, then crowded with troops, veterans and new
levies, from which Buell's army was being formed, to resist the
forces of Bragg, fresh from a victorious invasion of Kentucky.

The regiment was brigaded with the 22d Indiana, the 59th
and 75th Illinois, and the 5th (Pinney's) Wisconsin Battery.
Col. Philip Sidney Post, of the 59th Illinois, was assigned to the
command of the brigade, which formed a part of Gen. R. B.
Mitchell's command, attached to Gilbert's Division of McCook's
Corps.

From this time until the 7th of November following, when
Nashville was reached, the 74th was almost constantly on the
march.

Recurring to that period, you will remember the dusty
roads, the terrible drouth, the suffering for want of water and
the forced marches — one day, as I remember, twenty-six miles
were made.

Let us recall some of the incidents, grave or gay, of that
probationary period. On the 8th of October, 1862, Bragg's
army made a stand at Perry ville, Ky., and here was fought the
first battle of the campaign; for, though many skirmishes, and
some serious brushes, had before been had, in several of which
the 74th were engaged, no general engagement had been pre-
cipitated. As is well known, the fight at Perryville, while leav-
ing our army master of the field, was indecisive in its result,
since Buell, from some cause which he never satisfactorily ex-
plained, permitted no pursuit of Bragg's retreating forces, which
made a leisurely promenade to Cumberland Gap. The conduct
of Gen. Buell, on this occasion, became the subject of investi-
gation by the War Department, and on the 24th of October fol-
lowing, by order from Washington, he turned the command of
the army over to Gen. Rosecrans. This change was hailed with
delight by the soldiers, among whom Buell was far from popular.
As to the estimation in which General Rosecrans was held, it
may be safely said that no officer of the northern armies was
more loved by his men, for they believed him invincible, and
believed also that he made their comfort a matter of his own
personal attention. Immediately "Old Rosey," as the men
called him, reorganized the army, and Col. Post's brigade, as

10 FIRST REUNION OF THE

originally constituted, became the 1st, and was attached to the
first division, under Jeff C. Davis, of the 20th Corps, commanded
by Gen'l McCook.

Saturday, October 25th, 1802, the regiment camped at Dan-
ville, Ky. ; and on the following night snow fell to the depth of
three inches. On Nov. 5th, at 4 o'clock p. m., the 74th crossed
the line'between Kentucky and Tennessee, a large, square block
of stone, set up in the middle of the turnpike, marking alike the
boundary between those States, and also that famous Mason and
Dixon's Line which cut so large a figure in the politics of thirty'
years ago ; and on the farther side of which, as secession geo-
graphies would make us believe, lay that Southern Confederacy
which we were entering as invaders. The fact that we were at
last in Dixie was announced by loyal yells, hurrahs, and shouts
infinite in number and variety of tone. One incident of the day,
occurring before passing out of Kentucky, was not only amusing,
but also gratifying, as it showed we were not even there quite
without friends. As the 74th was marching quietly past a white
house by the roadside, their attention was arrested by an object
on the projecting balcony, which made every eye brighter and
every pulse beat more quickly. There, unattended, stood a
young woman, more than passing fair, on whose head, crowned
with golden locks, twenty summers had left their kindly touch —
her bonnet was loosely tied and fell back gracefully from a
shapely head, which was bent toward us — her cheeks were flushed
and rosy — her face was beaming with delight, while her willowy
frame was tremulous with emotion. In fine, the picture was that
of intense enthusiasm. Holding aloft the banner of the Union
— the Stars and Stripes— she waved the majestic ensign above
her head, and shouted in accents sincere, if not silvery: ''Give
'em thunder! Give 'em Hail Columby! I hope there won't be
no Rebels left nowhere, 'thout it's down below !" Well, we
might find some fault with the grammar, but the sentiment was
heartily endorsed, and her salutation was returned by a volley
of laughter, hearty cheers and a waving of hats. From Nov.
8th to Dec. 26th, 1862, the regiment was encamped at Nashville,
though participating, meantime, in some expeditions made neces-
sary by the activity of the enemy who were threatening the rail-
road to Louisville. That they were not, though in camp, alto-
gether idle, is evidenced by the following daily routine, then

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 11

observed : o a. m. reveille; 7 a. m. morning reports; 10 a. m.
company drill; 11 a. m. non-commissioned officers' drill; 2 to 4
p. m, batallion drill; 5 p. m. dress parade; 7 p. m. roll call; 9
p. m. taps. About this time a report reached Rockford that the
74th were suffering for lack of sufficient food, and that, for three
days, they had subsisted on short rations of field corn, when in
fact they were, while supposed to be in so deplorable a condition,
engaged in barter with rural natives, trading brown sugar at 75c.
a pound for milk at lOc. per quart, or exchanging half a pound
of coffee for half a bushel of meal. On Dec. 4th, 1862, this
regiment, which left Camp Fuller 940 strong, showed present
for duty 600 men. On that day they moved from camp eight
miles to the front for the purpose of reconnoitering the enemy's
position.

The advance was slow, as it was known that the rebels were
near, and skirmishers were accordingly thrown out. Lieut. -Col.
Kerr was in command, and was accompanied by Capt. Hatch>
A. A. G., and an aide from brigade headquarters.

About sundown, Col. Kerr, advancing slowly down the
road, with the skirmishers on either side of him moving cautious-
ly forward, descried a mounted confederate riding at full gallop
from a wayside house. Immediately Kerr and the two officers
with him put spurs to their horses and set off in hot pursuit, the
skirmish line and the entire force following as rapidly as pos-
sible. Kerr and his two comrades kept on until the horse of
the aide fell, throwing and seriously stunning his rider.

Capt. Hatch then, at the request of Kerr, dismounted to
assist the fallen officer, while the Colonel pressed on in chase of
the flying foe. Hatch having ascertained that no great injury
had been done to his comrade, remounted and hurried on to
overtake Kerr, and reports that he saw him, as he gained the
crest of a little rise in advance, fire his pistol, and at once pass
down out of sight.

Meantime the men had come up on double quick only to
find that Kerr had been captured. His hat and revolver, one
chamber of which was discharged, were found by the roadside.

On the 12th of December Col. Kerr, who had been taken to
Murfreesboro and paroled, rejoined the regiment.

He then reported to Columbus, O., was there exchanged,
and shortly after rejoined his regiment for duty.

12 FIRST REUNION OF THE

December 26, '62, the campaign which culminated in the
five days' battle at Murfreesboro was fairly begun, the whole
army being in motion. On that day the 74th encountered the
enemy and helped to dislodge one of his batteries, whose shells
had made it very uncomfortable. An advance ot fourteen miles
was scored. Saturday, December 27, from 11 a. m. to 4 p. m.,
was passed in skirmishing, and slow advance in line of battle,
driving the enemy.

On Sunday, the 28th of December, by tacit consent both
armies rested. On Monday, the 29th of December, the regiment
advanced ten miles toward Murfreesboro, and bivouacked with-
out fires.

Tuesday, the 30th, there was constant skirmishing and
heavy artillery firing by both armies. The lines were drawn
close together, and at last the two forces confronted each other
for the deadly struggle so long expected. This night all slept
on their arms, bivouacking in the cedars without fires, and
throughout the night there was much firing between the picket
lines. At this time the rebel line was but three-fourths of a mile
from our own.

At four o'clock, on the morning of the 31st, our men fell into
line and rested on their arms until break of day. A gray mist
prevailed, but at daylight we could see the Confederate hosts in
vast numbers moving by the left flank in three columns across
our front, and at once our own column began to move, by the
right, scarcely more than eighty rods from and in a line parallel
to that of the enemy, our movements being partially screened by
cedar thickets through which we passed.

Heavy and continuous firing was meantime heard between
the skirmishers, who were becoming more closely engaged.
This movement of the enemy, by column to the left, continued
for about half an hour, when it ceased, and, facing to the front,
the rebels made a fierce onslaught on Johnson's division on our
right, completely surprising that division and capturing its bat-
teries before a gun had been fired. The rapid retreat of John-
son's troops exposed our right to a severe enfilading fire, and, to
avoid this, our brigade at once changed front to the rear, and
falling back some sixty rods, took position behind a rail fence.
This movement was accomplished without confusion, and the
lines were unbroken.

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 13

Scarcely had the men faced to the front when the Confed-
erates, animated by the cheers of their comrades who had so
easily routed the extreme right of our army, advanced on our
front in an overwhelming force of three lines. As soon as our
men had been formed, and while every nerve was tense and
every sense expectant, our Division General, Jeff. C. Davis, rode
along in front, and turning to the men, with eyes that fairly
blazed, said in his unregenerate fashion, "Give them hell, 74th!
Keep cool and fire low" — and then trotted calmly past, as if it
had been a review.

However, we had not long to wait. The enemy commenced
firing at long range, but heedful of the good advice given, the
regiment reserved its fire until they were close upon us, and then
opened with volley after volley, which made the solid lines re-
coil, but could not permanently check the advance of such
superior numbers against our own light lines. Meanwhile the
5th Wisconsin bull dogs had not been idle, but poured in grape
and canister at short range, making fearful havoc in the closely
pressing Confederate ranks.

With undaunted courage the rebels came on, and we could
plainly hear the commands, "forward," "close up," amid all the
din of shot and shell. It being a choice between retreat and the
utter destruction or capture of the entire division, we were or-
dered to fall back. The 74th retreated only after every other
regiment of the division had fallen to the rear. This movement,
made in the face of a vastly superior pursuing force, was not
without some confusion ; but after falling back three-fourths of
a mile, the men were rallied, the lines re-formed, and the enemy
not only checked but driven back a considerable distance. The
result of the day's struggle between the two armies was some-
what of a drawn game. The casualties of the engagement to the
74th were eight killed, thirty-five wounded, forty-two missing or
captured. Total eighty-five.

In his report of the action, Col. Post used the following
language : "The deliberation and order with which the 74th Il-
linois regiment retired is especially commended." This closed
the chapter for 1862, except that on the same night a portion of
the regiment had a brush with the Confederate cavalry.

On January 1st, 1863, the 74th was in line of battle all day,
and had some skirmishing with the enemy.

14 FIRST REUNION OF THE

On the night of January 2d, the command was moved across
Stone River in support of the extreme left, then heavily engaged;
but before reaching the scene of action the rebels were in full
retreat.

Neither on the ~2d or 3d of January were any general engage-
ments precipitated, though severe contests, resulting in the ad-
vantage of the Union forces, occurred at intervals during both
days between portions of the opposing forces. The morning of
Sunday, the 4th, rose bright and warm, and it was then learned
that the enemy had evacuated Murfreesboro, the principal por-
tion of his army falling back to Shelbyville. In this sketch of
a series of actions, beginning with the fight at Nolensville, on
the 26th day oi December, in which the 74th engaged, and con-
tinuing with incessant march and skirmish for eight days, it has
been necessary to pass rapidly by many details. The result of
the movement was the immediate establishment of our army in
a fortified camp along the hardly won line of Stone River.

You will recall the trust and reliance we used to place in
the 5fh Wisconsin battery, so long attached .to Post's brigade,
and its heroic commander, Capt. O. F. Pinney, always conspic-
uous for coolness and gallantry; and you will remember, also,
how reassured and comfortable we used to feel when that splen-
did organization supported our movements, and gave the enemy
good proof that it could bite as well as bark.

Recurring to the action at Stone River: Pinney's battery
was in position in support of our brigade at sunrise, the six pieces
double shotted with grape and canister, and received the assault
at short range, fairly mowing down the enemy. As we after-
wards learned, three hundred dead rebels lay stark and stiff upon
the slope of the little knoll where those guns were posted.

Just before the order was given to fall back, Capt. Pinney
was wounded, as afterward proved mortally, a ball striking his
thigh and crushing the bones. As he fell, he turned to his men
and directed them to get off the field with their guns in as good
order as possible, and not to mind him, as he would encumber
their movements. This order was sorrowfully obeyed, for it was
then believed that he could survive but a few moments.

All of that day and the succeeding night, which was raw and
cold, Pinney lay between the lines, unattended by friend or foe
without food or water. Sometime the next day he was picked

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 15

up and carried to the field hospital, where he survived only until
February 17th following. During his illness he was attended
by some of his own men, who stated that in his feverish dreams
his mind constantly wandered back to that bloody field, where
the seed sown was iron and lead, and the harvest reaped was
death, now cheering his boys, praising a good shot, and direct-
ing the range of those terrible guns that dealt such havoc to the
very flower of the Confederate hosts, Hardee's corps. And now
allow me to recall a picture of the action of January 1st, 1863.
It is a marvelous and a pleasant thing to recur to that absolute
trust which his men reposed in "Old Rosy," and the enthusiasm
with which they greeted his appearance on the field that day,
when the massed batteries of the Union army belched forth their
deadly greeting to the solid lines of Breckenridge's advancing
forces, driving them in confusion, and in effect deciding the fate
of the contest. All that day the 74th had been in line of battle,
or on the skirmish line, and at 3 p. m. the main- body of the
brigade was deployed along the Murfreesboro Pike, about three
miles from the town, with skirmishers engaging briskly those of
the enemy.

Both Rosecrans and McCook had hovered in our immediate
vicinity all day. Who is there among you that cannot evoke
from the shadows of memory a picture of our beloved General
riding slowly past the lines, acknowledging, with a graceful
touch of his hat, the enthusiastic shouts which greeted his pres-
ence, and frequently halting to note with his glass the move-
ments of the skirmishers hotly engaged in our front?

The picture we carry of him as he appeared to us there is
that of a large, stout man, with the untroubled look of one who
enjoyed life, a kindly, genial face, a bright eye, a Roman nose,
whiskers sprinkled with gray. A splendid horseman, he rode
slowly by the waiting lines, and we noted the plainness of his
dress, the most marked feature of which was the overcoat of a
common soldier. And though he was the chief player in that
mighty game, and it was his will that set all the pieces in mo-
tion— though upon him was the responsibility of watching and
meeting every movement of the enemy, and winning the day
with the least sacrifice of his own men; there was no trace of
anxiety, no doubt, upon that tranquil face, but, on the contrary,
the look was that of a man self-poised, self-contained, conscious

16 FIRST REUNION OF THE

of all that was passing in every part of the field, and through all
the varying fortunes of the struggle, confident of the victory at
last achieved.

The men, reassured by their leader's serenity, felt that he
was the man for the hour, and could be observed scanning eag
erly their general's face, as if to read in its quiet lines those plans
which wrought success. Then and there could it be seen how
it is that a real leader of men can so fire the hearts of his soldiers
with his own enthusiasm as to make heroes of the humblest.

After the establisment of the Union army at Murfreesboro,
no general movement occurred until the 24th of June, 1863,
when the march upon Tullahoma was begun. Recurring to this
long period in camp, some incidents may be worthy of mention
as characteristic of the soldier's life. .On Tuesday, January 13,
1863, quarters were finally and comfortably settled; and, to cel-
ebrate the occasion, the 74th gave that night a grand ball, to
which its friends in the brigade were invited. There were two
violins, Corporal Du Foe, of Co. A, being the leader, and "call-
ing off." The floor of the ball room was a smooth plot of hard
clay ground, without grass, and its roof was rather elevated, be-
ing the blue, cloudless sky of Tennessee. The lights were
candles, held aloft by wall-flower spectators, and the toute en-
semble, if not brilliant was at least picturesque. Not a shred of
calico enlivened the scene — not a woman was present ; but this
difficulty was overcome by tying handkerchiefs upon the arms of
those who acted the part of ladies, which honorable badge en-
titled the wearer to the usual attentions bestowed on the gentler
sex. The dancing was kept up vigorously to a late hour, and
was much enjoyed as a pleasing break in the daily and mono-
tonous routine.

Among other happenings of this period you will recall one
day when a real, live woman rode through camp, and her appear-
ance was greeted with a polite waving of hats and shouts of re
spectful surprise, salutations which she acknowledged with bows
and a pleased smile. Every Sunday there was an inspection of
arms, accoutrements and quarters, and occasionally divine ser-
vice.

Foraging expeditions and picket duty were of frequent oc-
currence, and we often had brushes, more or less serious, with
the enemy's cavalry. Of these, one of the most notable was the

SEVENTY- FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 17

march to Franklin and occupation of that town, January 30 to
February 2, 1863, made necessary by a raid of rebel cavalry in
force, who were undertaking to destroy the railroad to Nashville.
You will remember the rapid march in the rain, the occupation
of the village, our encampment on the fair grounds, and the
bivouac in Floral Hall. You will remember the resistance of
the enemy, the short engagement and the foe's retreat. One
event of that expedition, as we were on the march to Franklin,
is fresh in my memory. You will recall how continuous was the
rain and how dark the nights, and also that the enemy's cavalry
was constantly in front, requiring the utmost vigilance on the
part of our pickets.

One of those nights — so dark that, as the boys used to say,
chalk would make a black mark on a darkey's face — it became
my duty, with Lieut. John F. Squier, of Co. C, (now at rest un-
der the violets) to be at the outposts, or lines of the grand
guard. At about 8 o'clock we set out from the fires of the picket
reserve to relieve the sentinels posted on a line some forty rods
in advance. Accompanied by a corporal and several men we
had already relieved two of the outposts, and were advancing
slowly, through briars and cornstalks, toward the third, occupied
by two of our men, when we were startled by hearing the tramp-
ing of many approaching feet among the stalks of a corn-field in
our front. Expecting no friend from that quarter we halted, the
men cocking their guns, prepared to receive the enemy who con-
tinued steadily to advance. Soon came the clear challenge of
one of our sentinels, "Who goes there?" This was followed by
the silence of death, for we, as well as the foe, had come to a
stand. The men crouched down, their pieces at the shoulder,
ready to fire at the word. Nothing could be seen three yards
ahead. It was the calm which precedes the storm of death.
Soon the sentinel challenged again; and this time, breaking the
oppressive silence like silvery music to our expectant ears, came
the tremulous answer, "Three cullud boys." The order to ad-
vance was given them, and then, emerging from the gloom, came
three terror-stricken darkies — young men. On being question-
ed, one of them, the least terrified, stated that they were only
out for a little spree, a dance among the colored folks on a
neighboring plantation, and, thrusting forward his head for in-
spection, said, "If you don't believe we are cullud boys, hyars

18

de wool." Such a certificate of loyalty was irresistible. Being
assured that they would surfer no harm, they were marched back
to the picket fire, by the light of which it was seen that our
"spoils of war" comprised, beside the three darkies, some desir-
able supplies, among which were a quart of peach brandy, a large
cup cake, and a dude's cane. Of course, they could not be per-
mitted to pass through our lines, but were allowed to return,
through the pickets, to their homes, a privilege for which, after
the fright they had undergone, they were so grateful that they
insisted on our accepting the brandy and cake, whereof the men
partook with much satisfaction.

In addition to the war material already enumerated as
secured by this capture, one of our men picked up, at daylight
the next morning, a carpet bag dropped by the contrabands,
the contents of which were several pounds of link sausage, two
pairs of white stockings — nearly long enough to cover a man to
the shoulders, a pair of bullet moulds, a lot of biscuit and
boiled ham, a cake dish, lamp mat, quilt patches and an elabo-
rately embroidered night cap. Singularly enough no account
of this exploit appears in the official reports of the commanding
General of the Army of the Cumberland.

And now a word regarding picket, or grand guard, along
the line of Stone River, by way of showing how difficult it was
to catch " Old Rosy " napping :

The entire front of the army was picketed by the grand
guard, to which duty detachments of two companies, by turn,
were assigned from each regiment. The greater portion of the
companies on duty held a reserve station, frequently some miles
in advance of the fortifications, where the army was encamped.
In front of this station, one-fourth of a mile, were two outposts,
occupied by details from either company, and still further in
front of each outpost, about forty rods (and often within speak-
ing distance of the enemies pickets) were four sentinels ranged
in a line — eight men in all — posted in hail of each other, cover-
ing completely the front. At each of the outposts, behind the
foremost pickets, were stationed four men and a non-commis-
sioned officer, upon whom the sentinels were to rally in case of
an attack in force by the enemy; and in the same event, senti-
nels and outposts alike were to rally upon the reserve of the

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 19

companies, under command of their officers, at the stations,
where also guards were constantly posted.

The position was a remarkably strong one, and not easily
surprised, since the advance pickets were usually posted along
the banks of Stone river, a rapid stream, flowing over a rocky
bed, and then not fordable, being at high water mark, owing to
continuous rains. The grand guard was relieved every twenty-
four hours. On February 14, 1863, Col. Kerr rejoined the reg-
iment, having been exchanged, and at once assumed command,
Col. Marsh at that time being on the sick list. On the 21st of
February the regiment escorted a forage train, to protect which
it was, for the greater part of the day, deployed in line of battle,
covering a field where the wagons were being loaded with corn,
and constantly skirmishing with the enemy's cavalry, who were
in force and very active. On the 22d of February the artillery
of the Grand Army fired a salute at sunrise to commemorate the
anniversary of the birth of truthful George Washington.

We remember also the review by Gen. Rosecrans, which
occurred on March 28, when, formed upon three sides of a
square, facing outward, our division was inspected by the com-
manding general, with McCook and Davis. You can see "Old
Rosy" riding slowly past, saluted and cheered as he always was
by officers and men, mounted on a powerful and handsomely
caparisoned gray horse, and pausing now and then to say a cheer-
ing word to the boys — a word always valued and treasured up
in memory.

And then you see him taking position, with generals and a
brilliant staff, at the open end of the square, while the division
filed past presenting arms, and making a glowing picture of "all
the pomp and circumstance of glorious war." The events of that
occupation of Murfreesboro crowd up from a surging sea of
recollection, so many and so striking that we can enumerate but
a few of them. You will recall one gray dawn, May 25, 1863,
when the 74th was picketing the Shelbyville pike, that an open
light wagon, drawn by two horses, came up to our outposts, in
the back seat of which was sitting a grave, clerical-looking man
in civilian's clothes, who silently and curiously surveyed a scene
in which he seemed to have no personal interest. This was
Clement L. Vallandigham, about to be sent, under order of the
President, into the rebel lines. After a short conference with

20 FIRST REUNION OF THE

the officer commanding the outposts, those having the prisoner
in charge drove rapidly down the pike, past our videttes, and,
in a few moments, delivered Mr. Vallandigham to the rebel
pickets, who, having been notified of his coming, were in wait-
ing for the event. We can remember, also, the advent of the
Schicker Bros., in April, 1863, when first, after many months,
soft bread was put under our teeth. And, (I had almost forgot-
ten to speak of it), you can hear even now the yell with which
the 74th broke camp, on the morning of June 24th, 1863, to
commence that campaign of incessant march, battle and skir-
mish, Which culminated in the fierce struggle of Sept. 19th and
20th, on the line of the Chicamauga, and the occupation of
Chattanooga by the Union forces.

We recall 'the pleasant camp at Winchester, in portions of
July and August, 1863, where the blackberries so abounded.
How, at that pretty village, the 6th of August, which the Presi-
dent had proclaimed as a fast day, was observed, when, by or-
der of Gen. McCook, the troops, wearing side-arms only, and
every man in his best, assembled at 10 a. m. in a beautiful grove,
situate in a picturesque little glen about a mile from the town,
where a celebration of the day, partly religious, partly martial,
and partly otherwise, was held. There was a prayer, singing of
hymns, the music of brass bands, and, to cap all, speeches,
without which no Yankee seems to think any public observance
complete. Gen. McCook was called out, but though one of
the bravest, he was also one of the most diffident of men, and
acknowledged the courtesy by complimenting the troops, in a
few words, on their appearance and their general look of busi-
ness. Of course the boys raised a shout for Gen. Jeff. C. Davis,
commanding our division, to which that fiery gentleman re-
sponded by some very flattering remarks in review of the past
and honorable career of his command, concluding by saying:
"Well boys, I can't say much to you here, but when we're before
Chattanooga, and I'm on Charley's back, I will make you a
speech." Arid we all knew what kind of a speech to expect
from him,- when, mounted upon his dark bay horse, he rode along
our front as the lines were formed for battle. Among other
events of the camp at Winchester was a minstrel show, impro-
vised by several musical members of the brigade, and which,
after proper advertising, occurred on the night of Aug. 13, 1863.

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 21

The exhibition took place in an enclosure, nearly or quite
the size of this Floral Hall, which was formed by a fence of tree
branches so high as to exclude unauthorized intrusion, and so
dense as to hide what passed within from the sight of prying out-
siders who did not possess the postal currency charged for ad-
mission. As a further precaution the management posted
guards all around the festive hall. The enclosed ground sloped
to the stage, and seats for the audience were formed by rails,
whose ends rested upon logs. The boys showed much taste in
the erection of a stage, which was well floored with smooth
boards, and roofed with fresh, leaf covered boughs. For a back-
ground they had managed to get — Heaven only knows where —
a painted stage scene. The whole was well lighted, and not-
withstanding the absence of ladies, the scene was quite a joyous
and striking one. The excellent band of the 25th Illinois served
as orchestra, and enlivened the intervals between acts with their
proverbially fine playing.

The opening act consisted of tumbling — the usual circus
business — and the performers, arrayed in the gorgeous spangled
tights of the profession, were really first-class acrobats. Not
even the inevitable clown was wanting, and that worthy added
much to the amusement by a shower of original and appropriate
jokes, after the manner of his kind. Then followed the usual
choruses, ballads, comic songs, clog and fancy dancing — in fact,
the full program of a first-class troupe. There were in the aud-
ience probably not less than 700 men, and there was no more
disorder than is seen at the most fashionable gathering at our
opera house, a fact going to substantiate the claim that the vol-
unteer armies of the north, while made up of boys who enjoyed
honest fun, were largely constituted of true gentlemen.

On the afternoon of Monday, August 10th, 1863, Gen.
Rosecrans reviewed all the troops then concentrated at Win-
chester. Qn Monday, the 17th of August, the army moved.
After short marches during that and the next three days, the
Seventy-Fourth went into camp at Stephenson, Ala., and there
remained until the 30th of August, on which day camp was
broken, the march resumed, and at 4:30 p. m., pontoons having
been laid, the Tennessee was crossed. After several marches,
with picket duty and light skirmishing, the brigade reached Valley
Head, Ala., a position it had been designated to occupy and hold.

22 FIRST REUNION OF THE

Here the brigade of Col. Post/ detached from the division, re-
mained until Friday, Sept. 18, when it moved toward Chatta-
nooga, over the mountains, escorting the supply trains which
were constantly threatened by Wheeler's cavalry, with whom
frequent brushes were had.

On the 20th of September the command rested at Stevens'
Gap. Our brigade was at this time entirely cut off from the
rest of the army, and in imminent danger of capture.

We had heard the fighting of the 19th, and could now hear
the engagement of the 20th raging in the distance; but it was
not until the 22d of September when the brigade fortunately
made a junction with the balance of the division at Peavine
Creek, that we learned the story of the defeat of our army on
the bloody hills along the Chickamauga.

During the ensuing four weeks the Federal army was en-
gaged in the erection of fortifications to protect its position at
Chattanooga. In the interval some fighting occurred, and on
September 24th, the 74th and 22d Indiana made a reconnoisance,
discovering the enemy, with whom a skirmish was had, very
strongly posted, in force, in the front of Post's brigade. Then
ensued events with dramatic rapidity. Oct. 19, Gen. Rosecrans
issued his farewell address to the Army of the Cumberland, on
the 21st Gen. Thomas assumed the command, and on the 23d
General Grant reached Chattanooga, now regularly invested by
the enemy, flushed with his recent success. From this period
to the 24th and 25th of November, when the actions of Lookout
and Mission Ridge were fought, the time was passed in a re-
organization of the army, bringing up reinforcements from the
armies of the Tennessee and Potomac, and other preparations
for the deadly grapple so near at hand.

During the investment of Chattanooga, owing to precarious
communication with its base of supplies, the union army sub-
sisted upon short rations, which were, in proportion to full allow-
ance as follows: of hard-tack, bacon, coffee and sugar, one-
fourth, and of beef a full ration.

Allow me here to recall an occurrence, the only one of its
kind in that army, so far as remembered, which made a lasting
impression on all who witnessed the sad affair. I refer to the
execution of two deserters on Friday, Nov. 13, 1863. Under the
new organization of the Army of the Cumberland, the 74th was

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT- 23

now in the first brigade, under Col. Frank T. Sherman of the
88th Illinois, and in the 2d division, commanded by Gen. Phil.
Sheridan, of the 4th army corps, Gen. Gordon Grangers. By
order of the commanding general, this division, to which the cul-
prits had belonged, was formed under arms in an open field,
forming three nearly equal sides of a hollow square, the men in
two lines about 30 feet apart, the two ranks facing. After the
formation was completed, the solemn cortege escorting the con-
demned approached, preceded by a brass band, playing a dead
march. First came an officer in charge, then the prisoners — with
one of them two Catholic priests, with the other a Protestant
clergyman; on either side of these two unfortunates marched a
half platoon of soldiers, the executioners. Bringing up the rear
were two plain coffins borne upon the shoulders of soldiers with-
out arms. One of the prisoners was a young man, aged about
23, not prepossessing in looks, but serious, firm, self-possessed,
though not defiant. The other, a much older man, apparently
40, walked with a bearing less assured, and a step less steady,
and never once raised his head to look around him, as the other
did at intervals. On the contrary, the older man's eyes were fix-
ed on the ground, and his whole attitude was that of one stunned
and despairing. Both were men in vigorous health, and it was
no light ordeal for the silent ranks to stand there seeing those
two marching slowly, step by step, around the three sides of
that double line of comrades, over the few hundred yards which
lay between them and death — not the death of honor on the field,
but that meed of disgrace which the stern law of war measures
out to him who, in face of the enemy, falters in duty. A scene
more silent and impressive could not be imagined. The very
horses of the mounted officers stood like statues, awed, it seemed,
as the men were, into silence by the low music, whose burden
seemed a wail of despair. In all those serried ranks not a whisper
was heard.

The procession passed around to the middle of the open end
of the square facing the troops; the coffins were placed side by
side upon the ground; the prisoners' eyes were bandaged, and
then each of them sat down upon a long, rough box-his own coffin.

Within the hollow square, and facing the condemned, a
platoon drew up and formed twelve paces in front of the sitting
men.

24 FIRST REUNION OF THE

The prisoners' hands were free. At this moment the young
man unbuttons his coat, and tearing open his shirt, exposes his
naked breast to the expected volley, then quietly drops his hands
behind him. At the same time, the older man, turning to the
facing platoon, says. "Fire at my breast, boys."

Meanwhile both lines of the brigade had faced inward, and
now, at a low command, the' front rank kneel that those in the
rear may see what follows. All this occupied but a few seconds;
but in that small interval those two wretches are in darkness,
awaiting death.

At last the officer in charge drops his handkerchief. It is
the signal, and the platoon fire as one man. The condemned
fall quickly beside their coffins, and what but a moment before
was vigorous life, has become a thing, a clod, inert as stone.

Then the regiments march by those two forms lying motion-
less, each in a pool of blood, and every soldier looks upon them
with that eternal curiosity, that silent and inquiring regard, with
which the living have always viewed the dead. As this passes,
the band has been playing another march of the dead; but when
the last regiment had filed slowly by it strikes up a merry tune,
taking some of the weight from the men's hearts; and so, keep-
ing time to that cheerful measure, all returned to camp.

On Nov. 14, the regiment received from the ladies of Rock-
ford its new flag, destined to receive a fiery christening eleven
days after.

On the 24th of November Hooker's men carried, by a bril-
liant assault, the lower slopes of Lookout, and the morning of
the 25th found the entire position in that part of the field evac-
uated by the enemy. On the morning of the 25th the Union
left, under Sherman, had made several ineffectual assaults on
the Confederate right. This was the position of affairs when,
at 2:30 p. m., Sheridan's, Baird's, and Wood's divisions of
Granger's corps, then formed some 80 rods from the enemy's
skirmishers, received the order to move forward and carry the
rebel rifle pits at the foot of the ridge. No other order was given;
and all that was expected was that these divisions should hold
and occupy the enemy's line of advanced rifle pits, behind which,
covering the slopes of the ridge, was a tangled mass of fallen
timber, a formidable abattis, and on the crown of the hill a long

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 25

line of Confederate batteries, supposed to command the position
so strongly as to defeat any possible assault.

For a few rods in front of the Federals, as they moved for-
ward to the attack, was a bushy thicket, through which their
lines soon passed, and emerged upon open ground, extending
to the enemy's front, and in sight of his skirmishers, who at
once commenced firing rapidly.

From this point Sheridan's men rushed forward on the
dead run, receiving a hot fiire from the enemy's infantry, hold-
ing his rifle pits, and continuous volleys from his batteries on
the hill beyond.

Meanwhile the Federal artillery in the Union redoubts was
pouring a deadly hail of shot over the heads of Sheridan's in-
fantry, and doing good execution in the enemy's ranks.

In less time than it takes in the telling, the rebel rifle pits
were carried by our men, and most of their surviving occupants
made prisoners. Here the troops paused, breathless; but only
for a few minutes, when Generals Wood and Sheridan, on their
own motion, as was afterwards stated, and without direction
from their superior officers, gave the order to storm the ridge.

How completely successful that assault was there is little
need to say. In that charge the new flag of the 74th was borne
by Chas. E. Allen, of Company E. He soon fell, struck by "a
minie, but the colors had hardly dropped from his nerveless
grasp before they were seized by Alba Miller, of Company C,
who carried them but a short distance, when he, too, was hit
and severely wounded, and the falling flag was grasped by
Corporal Compton, of Company D, who soon after fell, mortally
struck, about a rod below the crest of the ridge. The dangerous
emblem, which seemed to be a favorite mark for the enemy, was
snatched from the hands of the dying Compton by Corporal
Fred. Hensey, of Company I, who soon planted it, pierced by
fiifteen bullet holes, upon the rebel works — the first Union flag
to fly upon the hard won crest of that hill of death.

In this assault, the 74th lost 14 killed, 39 wounded, and 6
missing. Of the wounded, several survived but a short time.

Upon the events transpiring between December 1st, 1863,
and the first week of May, 1804, when Sherman's campaign
against Atlanta was begun, we cannot dwell at length, but must
be content with brief mention. Among these, in which the 74th

26 FIRST REUNION OF THE

took part, were the expedition to Knoxville, the occupation of
Louden, near which the regiment ran a mill, grinding into flour
for the army wheat gathered up in the adjacent country, and the
camp at Davis Ford, on the Little Tennessee.

In this camp, where the regiment remained for several
weeks, they were comparatively remote from the field which had
been occupied by the contending armies, and in a country
abounding in supplies, readily obtainable at reasonable prices.

One incident of that camp may be recalled. There was, as
you remember, a mess of the regiment which went under the
high-sounding name of "The Gait House," and had, for cook,
a bad though enterprising darkey, whose name is not remem-
bered, but to whom we may refer as Bill. Bill was an excellent
cook, fruitful in the invention of good dishes from a limited list
of materials, but an incorrigible thief and consistent liar.

Among other things which contributed to the pleasure of
life at Davis Ford was the kindness of the family on whose farm
we were encamped; and among other possessions in which these
friendly people especially rejoiced, was a large flock of peacocks,
full grown and elegant birds. Knowing the weakness of Bill's
flesh, he had been repeatedly warned on no account to confis-
cate anything eatable on the premises. To this injunction he
readily promised obedience. Now it so happened that Bill, one
day at breakfast, gave out to the mess that he would serve them
for dinner such a dish as would cause the pampered mouth of a
major general to water. At dinner, the humble author of this
screed — owing to his supposed knowledge of anatomy — held the
responsible post of carver,

There, at the table's head, fat, brown and inviting, grace-
fully trussed upon a large platter, and tastefully trimmed with
sundry sprigs of sweet herbs, lay a large fowl of unknown species,
not cold, but .hot in death.

The true condition of affairs was at once suspected, and Bill
was forthwith subjected to a searching line of questions. Being
pressed, he admitted that it was not a goose, was quite sure it
was no turkey, and finally, to the horror of the mess, owned up
that it was a peacock; "but," said he, "gen'lum, I cannot tell a
lie; the bird attacked me, and I had to kill him." This explana-
tion was accepted, though not without some doubt of its truth;

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 27

the royal bird was duly eaten, and all hands agreed to keep the
matter quiet.

On May 2, 1864, the general advance of the Union army
against the reorganized Confederate forces under Johnston,
began; and this campaign, vigorously pressed, ended Sept. 1,
1864, with the occupation of Atlanta by Sherman's troops.

And here, for a moment, let us take a backward glance at
this regiment, which had left Camp Fuller 940 strong. A few
of its morning reports still remain, and to these we will refer.

On March 31, 1863, there were present for duty 438. On
Oct. 5, 1863, this had been reduced to 380. At Mission Ridge,
the exact figures are not at hand, but the regiment did not num-
ber, in that action, more than 340 combatants, of whom 59, or
17 per cent., were placed that day hors du combat.

On the 2d of May, 1864, the regiment must have had about
350 effective men, field and line, as many of its wounded in the
actions of the preceding November had recovered and rejoined
the command. Of the casualties of the Atlanta campaign there
remain the following records : May 14 and 15, at Resaca, 4 kill-
ed, 22 wounded; May 17, Adairsville, 1 killed, 28 wounded;
May 31, Dallas, 5 killed, 7 wounded. The total casualties from
May 2, when the regiment left Cleveland, Tenn., to June 11, at
Acworth, Ga., comprised 11 killed and 49 wounded.

In this hasty record no total list of casualties of the cam-
paign has been obtainable; neither can we dwell upon the many
stubbornly contested engagements in which the regiment took
part. Among them was the hot action at Reseca, in which our
friend, Thos. W. Cole, of Co. D, our marshal to-day, lost his
arm. We come at last to that mad assault of June 27th, at
Kenesaw, where the regiment met the severest loss in its history,
going into the fight with 201 men, and coming out with 138, a
loss of 31 per cent, Of that action the following account has
been preserved :

HEADQUARTERS 74TH ILL. VOL. INFANTRY, \
Near MARIETTA, June 28, 1864. j

WM. LATHROP, Rockford, 111. — Dear Sir: For the inform-
ation of those having friends in the regiment, I transmit the fol-
lowing report of casualties occurring yesterday, the 27th inst., in
an assault made by our division on the enemy's works.

28 FIRST REUNION OF THE

(Here follows list, omitted because of its great length.)
Killed, 12; wounded, 38; missing, 13. Total, 63.

Of those enumerated as wounded, 3 are missing, and sup-
posed to be in the enemy's hands.

Our brigade moved out of its works yesterday morning at 9
o'clock. The regiment was formed in column by divisions —
that is, in five divisions, each being constituted of two companies.
These divisions, in this formation, made the front occupied by
the regiment, only that of two companies.

This proved in the end a disadvantage, as it did not enable
all of the men to use their arms, those in the rear fearing to fire,
lest they might hit their comrades in front. The skirmish line,
behind which we were formed, advanced slowly, engaging the
rebels, who made a stubborn resistance, but finally, about 9:30
a. m., fell back to their main line of works, taking refuge in the
outside ditches. The enemy's fortifications were at the foot of
the Kenesaw slope, in the timber at the edge of an open field,
and comprised a heavy line of earth-works, bristling with bat-
teries, so arranged as to enfilade our forces, while in front was a
formidable abattis. Having driven the skirmish line, our men
halted and formed in a ravine 30 rods from the rebel line. Mean-
while the two skirmish lines were incessantly engaged, the enemy,
firing from their ditches, suffering much less than our men.
This was the position of affairs when the order was given to
charge.

The men, who were lying on their arms, rose and rushed for-
ward, firing rapidly and with loud shouts upon the rebel intrench-
ments. At once the enemy received our advancing columns
(now in plain sight to them in the open space comprising the
few rods of distance between the lines) with a murderous fire of
musketry, while their artillery poured in a shower of grape and
canister at the short range of ten rods, and in some instances
even less.

In this rapid and impetuous assault, requiring in action less
time than suffices to tell the story, the 74th lost most of those
who fell that day.

The rebel infantry fled from their works, which our men
scaled and occupied at once; but the enemy, after a short flight
up the slope, rallied and re-formed his lines. In possession of
the intrenchmeiits of their foes, our troops halted for breath be-

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 29

fore again facing the tornado of lead and iron which was being
poured upon them, not only from the rallied forces in their front,
but from a flanking fire on either side. At this instant there oc-
curred a disaster which showed the men of the 1st brigade that
their attempt to hold this line of works, carried at so great a
sacrifice, would be useless, for, looking to their left, they could
see the Federal forces, comprising another brigade of our di-
vision, rapidly falling back. The result of this was immediate
and disastrous, for our exposed left flank at once became the
mark for an incessant and galling fire from the rebel infantry,
who, pressing swiftly forward, were occupying the ground from
which the Union left had retreated.

Our brigade, obedient to the orders of their few remaining
officers, fell back slowly, preserving their lines, cooly taking ad-
vantage of the ground to make frequent halts and fire more than
one Parthian volley at the rebels. The latter advanced slowly
and without confidence, making easier the resistance of our men.
At 10:30 a. m. the 1st brigade re-occupied its works, having,
for a full hour, been under a fire more hot and continuous than
is often seen in engagements of greater magnitude.

In no action in which this regiment has participated has
there been so large a proportion of wounds from grape and can-
ister, some of them received not ten yards from the rebel cannon
— wounds from musket balls usually constituting a large majority
of casualties. The enemy were quick to take advantage of flank-
ing our left, and this accounts for so many of our men being
taken prisoners.

Col. Kerr was thus captured, foremost in the ranks, and
wounded. Yesterday afternoon Maj. Sabin, of the 44th 111., in
our division, went out under a white flag and held a parley
with Lieut. Col. Will H. Martin, commanding the 1st Arkansas
infantry, who occupied the line in our immediate front.

Col. Martin proved to be a humane and courteous gentle-
man, for he cheerfully complied with Maj. Sabin's request for a
truce of picket firing, while the wounded were being carried from
the field.

A rather singular scene was then presented, of which the
ground between the two armies was the theatre; and on that
bloody stage, rebels and Yankees alike unarmed, passed and re-
passed, carrying off their wounded comrades, while here and

BO FIRST REUNION OF THE

there, standing or sitting, were groups of men, some in butter
nut and some in blue, quietly conversing about the late action,
drinking from each other's canteens or lunching from each other's
haversacks — the same men who had, but a few hours before,
tested one another's mettle in the deadliest struggle of the cam-
paign.

Yours respectfully,

HOSMER P. HOLLAND,
Lieut, and Acting Adjutant.

After the action, four men of ihe 74th who had been report-
ed among the missing, were found dead upon the field.

Under date of June 29, 1864, I find a memorandum show-
ing the total casualties of the regiment from May 2d to June
29th, inclusive, as follows: Killed, 39; wounded, 107; missing,
10. Total, 156.

On the 28th of June, the morning after Kenesaw fight, the
74th .effective force comprised 127 enlisted men and 11 officers.
In that action its four ranking Captains were killed, its only
field officer captured, and its adjutant wounded. Its 5th cap-
tain assumed command, and two of its companies were placed
in charge of non-commissioned officers, while with each of the
eight remaining companies there was but one commissioned
officer.

When it is recalled that at Stone River, in which the pro-
portion of casualties was the greatest of any action of the war
up to the date of its occurrence, the greatest loss inflicted on
any portion of the Union army was 24 per cent., some idea may
be formed of the .bloody character of this assault, where the 74th
had 31 per cent, of its men put out of the fight. Of the fate of
Col. Kerr, we learned a day or two after the action from Col.
Martin, of the 1st Arkansas, (between which rebel regiment arid
our own there was a constant interchange of civilities) that he
was in the hospital at Atlanta, where the Confederate surgeons
who examined his wounds pronounced them not dangerous.

We were also informed that he was in excellent spirits, and
was expected to speedily recover. Our hopes were dashed,
however, and we sometime after learned that our beloved com-
mander had died at Atlanta on the third of July following, his
wounds, aggravated by the prevailing heat, proving to be mor-
tal.

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 31

Coming to this point in our story, we have passed by many
engagements in which the 74th took part, among them, May
7th, at Tunnel Hill ; May 9th, at Rocky Face Ridge, up whose
rugged side, inaccessible for artillery horses, the regiment haul-
ed two Parrott guns by ropes, and where an all day's skirmish
ensued; the occupation of Dalton on the 13th of May; a skir-
mish during the entire afternoon of the 16th of May, just after
crossing the Oostenaula, and about 3 miles south of Resaca;
May 17, the action at Calhoun; an all day's skirmish, at times
rather lively, on the 26th of May; May 27th and 28th, slow ad-
vances and constant skirmishes, and a loss of several men, kill-
ed and wounded. At 8 p. m. on the 29th of M^y, a hot engage-
ment, lasting an hour, under a heavy fire from the enemy's ar-
tillery, with his pickets; June 1st, a skirmish; June 6th, an ad-
vance as flankers, slowly driving the rebel pickets; June 15th,
skirmishing, forcing the enemy's pickets back two miles; June
16, the action at Lost Mountain; June 17th, an all day skirmish
and a charge upon the enemy's line of rifle pits, thrown up the
night before, which our men carried in fine style with their usual
yell, and immediately occupied; June 18th, an all day skirmish,
driving the rebels back one mile into a line of earthworks thrown
up the preceding night. On the 19th of June the 74th had a
rest from incessant skirmishing, the gallant old 36th 111., being
in the advance that day. On the 20th, 21st and 22nd of June,
the men were engaged in throwing up earthworks, one line after
another being abandoned as our advance drove the enemy back
upon their main fortifications at Kenesaw. This work was
prosecuted under a constant fire from the enemy's artillery, and
in its progress the regiment lost many killed and wounded.

On June 23rd the 74th moved out of its works at 4 p. m.,
to support the skirmishers hotly engaged. A brisk action en-
sued, in which one man was killed and several wounded.

The regiment was all of that day on the skirmish line, and
was not relieved until 9 p. m.. The 25th and 26th days of June
were comparatively quiet, the men of either army seeming con-
tent to take a rest. Following quickly on the fruitless assault
of June 27th, came those movements of Sherman's, which, on
July 2nd, resulted in the evacuation by Johnston of the strong
position of Kenesaw, and the occupation by Sherman's army of
Marietta, on July 3d. Moving with the army on the 3d, the

32 FIRST REUNION OF THE

74th passed that night on the picket lines and celebrated the
4th by a skirmish, lasting the entire day, in which 7 men were
wounded, two of whom survived only until the following day.
From this time until the occupation of Atlanta, the chapter is
one of constant march and skirmish and battle, including Hood's
fierce assaults of the 20th and 22nd of July, in the first of which
the 74th were engaged, losing a number of men. Hood had
superseded Johnston in command of the Confederate forces July
17th.

Reviewing the progress made, we find the regiment in the
skirmish at Vining's Station, on July 5th. July 9th a march of
14 miles was scored and the Chattahoochee forded at 7 p.m.,
after a very hot day; the night of the 13th was passed in throw-
ing up earthworks; on the 14th the regiment was engaged in
building a bridge at Power's Ford, on the Chattahoochie, to en-
able the artillery to be moved across the river; on the 17th the
74th made a reconnoisance about a mile in advance, but did not
find the enemy; at 6 a. m., on the 18th, the men were on the
move, and at 8 a. m. were skirmishing with the enemy, and so
continued in rather lively fashion for an hour. That night we
bivouaced but six miles from Atlanta, about which the lines were
every day more closely drawn. On the night of the 19th, Peach-
tree creek was crossed, and along this stream were formed the
Federal lines which repulsed the fierce assaults of Hood on the
20th and 22nd. Soon after the action of the 22nd the siege of
Atlanta was fairly begun, and early in August all communication
with the beleaguered city, save by the single line of railway to
Macon, was completely cut off.

The lines of investment were strongly fortified, and outside
of them was a line of rifle pits in which a constant duel was main-
tained by our pickets with those of the enemy. In addition, the
artillery of both armies threw shell, at intervals, both day and
night, making it necessary to maintain a constant vigilance. An
incident of one of those nights, when a detachment of the 74th
were holding a line of rifle-pits, is worthy of mention.

Among the party was Capt. Cronemiller, of Co. "I," a man
of muscle, who erstwhile had exercised his arm as a blacksmith.
The night was a fine one, and the pickets in both lines had, by
tacit agreement, ceased firing. A rebel battery in our front was
throwing over an occasional shell, but none had yet fallen so

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 33

near our little group as to be dangerous. All of the men had
their arms in their hands, some resting in a rifle pit, and some on
the ground outside.

Suddenly we heard the startling scream of a coming shell,
and in an instant it struck the earth beside Capt. Cronemiller.
At once he sprang to his feet, picked up the burning missile, and
drawing back a brawny right arm, hurled it as far forward as his
strength would permit, then dropping full length upon the
ground, in which position his comrades already were, he await-
ed the explosion which occurred before one could count ten.
The flying pieces of iron hurtled harmlessly over our heads, and
every man felt that he owed his life to Cronemiller's cool cour-
age and powerful arm.

We will not follow in detail the movements of the regiment
as the siege progressed, during August, 1864. From the 30th
of Aug. to the 3d of Sept. the division was engaged in the move-
ment to the south of Atlanta, which had for its object the de-
struction of Hood's sole means of supply, the railway to Macon.
This expedition was completely successful, and resulted in the
evacuation of the city by the Confederate army in the night of
Sept. 1st. In these operations, after destroying several miles of
railway on the 1st, the division had a hot engagement with the
enemy late in the afternoon of the same day, at Jonesboro, in
which the Confederates were completely defeated, the losses of
the day in the 74th numbering 14 wounded and missing. In ad-
vancing on the following day, Sept. 2nd, the division passed
through Jonesboro, and late in the afternoon, at a point about five
miles south of the village, had another brush with the enemy,
who gave way, manifesting no desire for a general engagement.

On the 8th of Sept., 1864, the division rejoined the army at
Atlanta, reoccupying the camp held by it, on the lines of invest-
ment, one and a half miles from the city. Here the army of the
Cumberland remained in quarters until Sept. 25th, when it was
transferred by rail to Chattanooga, to meet the threatening
demonstrations of Hood, reaching that city the following day at
2 p. m. On the 8th of Oct., the regiment was moved by rail to
Resaca, and on the following day returned to Chattanooga.
When near Red Clay, Ga., two cars of the train were thrown
from the track, resulting in killing Asst. -Surgeon Sam'l C. Per-
son, and seriously wounding nine men — five of Co. C. and four

34 FIRST REUNION OF THE

of Co. H. The remaining events of 1864 must be passed quick-
ly by. On the 31st of Oct. the division was transferred by rail-
road to Pulaski, in West Tennessee, from whence, on Nov. 22nd,
it was moved to Nashville, then threatened by Hood. On the
29th of Nov., at Spring Hill; the 4th corps had a lively engage-
ment with the enemy's cavalry, driving the rebel force over a
mile. In this action the 74th had one man killed and three
wounded. That same day the division moved to Franklin, where
a strong line of earth works was immediately thrown up. On the
afternoon of the following day, Nov. 30th, the impetuous Hood
made his attack on the works. Ten times were his men hurled
furiously upon the lines of Thomas, and ten times were they re-
pulsed with fearful slaughter, many of them being killed by
blows from picks and shovels in the hands of the Federals.

Of the loss of the regiment that day no record has been
found. In that action the 74th and 88th Ills, were united, and
acted as one regiment under command of Col. Smith, of the
88th.

The next day Generals Thomas and Wood rode along the
line, and, halting in front of the consolidated regiments, Gen.
Wood called forward Col. Smith, and addressing him, said, "I
wish, Colonel, in the presence of Gen. Thomas, to repeat — what
Gen. Stanley assured me was true — that it is owing to the bravery
of yourself and men that we saved the army at Franklin." In ef-
fect, by his tacit assent, this was praise from " Old Pap Thomas,"
— and higher praise no man could ask for. On the 15th and
16th of Dec., 1864. were fought the battles at Nashville, result-
ing in the complete defeat of Hood, and his rapid retreat out of
Tennessee, pursued by the forces of Thomas. In both of these
actions the 74th took part with honor. On the 16th, as you will
remember, Gen. Post, our old brigade commander, was wound-
ed, as then supposed, fatally. The chronicler has found no data
on which to estimate the strength of the regiment at the end of
1864, but it appears that, on Dec. 3d of that year, twelve days
before the actions at Nashville, it mustered 126 muskets.

We may close the chapter for 1864, and turning to 1865 we
find the regiment in winter quarters, in January, at Huntsville,
Ala. February and March passed with some movements, but no
general engagements, by the army of the Cumberland ; and in
the latter month Thomas was concentrating his forces at Knox-

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 35

ville and Chattanooga. We come now to the month of April,
1865, eventful as marking the final scenes of the rapidly closing
drama of the slave-holders' rebellion ; the capture of Richmond,
the surrender of Lee with the army of Northern Virginia, and his
farewell address to his command, the order of the Secretary of
War to stop all drafting and recruiting, the surrender of the re-
maining rebel armies, and the death of Lincoln.

These events were succeeded on May 29th, 1865, by the
Proclamation of Amnesty.

On the 10th of June, 1865, the 74th, then numbering 343
officers and men, of whom some portion had been recruited since
leaving Camp Fuller, was mustered out of service at Nashville,
Tenn., and shortly after set out on their return to this city, where,
arriving June 29th, they met a hearty public reception at the
hands of the citizens.

And now, having said so much for ourselves, shall we not
have some good word to say of those with whom we crossed
sword and bayonet on many a hard fought field?

True, they differed from us in opinion on that great ques-
tion, there being brought to issue in wager of battle; but then
they had so emphatic a way of enforcing their views upon our
attention, by arguments of cold steel and lead, as necessarily to
win our respect. You will remember that in the truces, when
details from either army met to bury the dead and carry off the
wounded, or on picket, when, within speaking distance, both
sides agreed to cease firing, and, leaving their muskets in the
rifle pits, the boys met one another half way, and, sitting to-
gether, had a friendly talk, with exchange of newspapers and
such commerce as the barter of hard tack for corn pone — on such
occasions, as will be remembered, you used to call them"Rebs, "
or "Johnnies," while they invariably addressed you as "Yanks."
In neither case did the epithet give offense, for neither meant it
should. At such times the talk was lively and friendly, and
without animosity, though it included the discussion of every po-
litical subject which engrossed public attention in either section
of the country.

Who that then saw these men, one squad in butternut home-
spun, the other in Uncle Sam's blue, could suppose that their
present business was to kill one another? Can you now not say this
of those with whom you contended for principle? — that theyprov-

36

FIRST REUNION OF THE

ed themselves men, and worthy foemen, evidencing the sincer-
ity with which they held their purpose by periling life itself to
uphold a falling cause ! And what more shall we ask of any
man? Hailing them now, shall we call them "Rebs?" Shall we
not, rather, salute them as Americans?

Appended to this paper is a tabular statement, compiled
from the reports of the Adjutant-General of the State, showing
the original strength of the regiment, and its numbers, includ-
ing recruits1, when mustered out. The full complement of the
Field and Staff, at the outset, comprised a Surgeon, Ass't-Sur-
geon and Chaplain. These officers were not present when the
regiment was mustered in, but being subsequently mustered,
soon after joined the command.

They, consequently, with some enlisted men sick in hospital,
or absent for other reasons on muster day, are shown on the offi-
cial rolls as recruits.

Among those included in the enumeration "mustered out
June 10th, 1865," are several men, who three days before, had
been assigned to the 36th Ills.: and, under the same head, are
included a few, who, either being on detached service, prisoners,
or from sickness, could not be present on the 10th, at Nashville,
and, therefore, were not in fact discharged from service until the
latter part of June, 1865. HOSMER P. HOLLAND.

ABSTRACT OF MUSTER ROLLS OF 74TH ILL. INFANTRY.

Mustered in Sept. 4, '62.

Mustr'dout J'ne 10' 65

Organization.

Officers.

S3
3J

•

5

o
H

Recruits

B

i

~sx

<

Officers.

a

•
I

"5
1

Field Staff

5

3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3

6
84
91
90
99
88
84
95
94
80
95

5
6

87
94
93
102
91
87
98
1)7
83
98

6

5
1

1
19
5
1
1
3
5
7
6

11

6
92
95
94
121
96
88
99
100
88
105
6

7

2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2

6
31
31
37
45
26
21
39
20
24
32
4

7
6
33
33
39
47
28
23
41
22
26
34
4

N. C. Staff

Company A

B

C

D

" E

F

G

" H

I

K

Recruits unassigned

Totals ..

35

906

941

GOllOOl

27

316

343

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 87

NOTE. During the foregoing recital, and upon concluding
that portion of the narrative which undertakes to describe the
part taken by the regiment in the action at Mission Ridge, the
writer halted in his task, and addressing General Post, present
in the audience, referred to the generally accepted theory that
this assault was one of those exceptional cases where the men,
as the saying is, "took the bits in their own mouths," — that is,
acted on impulse, and unconscious of orders, if any there were,
— and asked that officer for any information within his knowledge
as to the origin of the order to carry the heights by storm.

In reply, Gen. Post, in substance, made the following state-
ment of the facts, as he was informed of them soon after the ac-
tion :

That no order for a general assault of the position was, so
far as the record shows, issued by Gen. Grant, who, at the time,
was at Orchard Knob; that Gen. Grant believed (as Bragg
claimed) that the position was unassailable by a direct charge;
that when, after the rifle pits were carried, he saw Sheridan's
men scrambling up the slope, he expressed both amazement and
anxiety at what he regarded as a hare-brained attempt which
could only result in the utter rout, with heavy loss, of Granger's
corps; that he at once sent orders for the men to be recalled,
and to resume their position in the captured line of rifle pits at
the Ridge's foot; that before the order could be delivered to
Sheridan his men were already more than half way up the slope;
and that, on receiving the order from the officer who presented
it to him, the impetuous Phil, said: "Very well; there the boys
are, and they seem to be getting along ; stop them if you can ;
I can't stop them until they get to the top."

It will also be remembered that Gen. Sheridan was with
our brigade during the entire action; and it is doubtless the
truth of history that he, with Gen. Wood, and perhaps also
Baird, was among the few General officers present who believed
that the attempt was likely to succeed; and so believing, he per-
sonally cheered on his troops, who, breaking the solid center of
Bragg's lines, forced the entire Confederate army to retreat in
confusion. H. P. H.

Sergeant Edward Black, of Co. A, who was present for duty
everyday during the regiment's entire term of service, and who
is remarkable for a memory unusually exact and retentive of de-

38 FIRST REUNION OF THE

tails, after narrating to me the incident mentioned below, at
my request reduced the same to writing, and it is herewith ap-
pended. H. P. H.

ROCKFORD, Sept. 4, 1883.

MR. HOLLAND: My recollection of what occurred after the
rifle pits, at the foot of Mission Ridge, were carried, is very dis-
tinct.

As we reached the ditch the men took shelter there, their
rebel occupants dropping their guns and falling to our rear,
prisoners.

Our division commander, Gen. Phil. Sheridan, rode rapidly
down the line, and reaching the right of our regiment shouted:
"On, men, on! Forward, boys, forward! We can go the top!"

He was waving his hat in one hand, his sword in the other,
and shouting at the top of his voice.

Passing from the right to the left of our regiment he noticed
an old road leading up the hill and through the ditches.

Reining in his galloping horse, he drove rapidly up the slope
shouting, "Come on, boys! Give them HELL! We will carry
the Ridge!"

Thus he rode along the side of the hill, up and down the
lines, encouraging the men, and seeming to inspire them with his
own resistless energy, for, answering his shouts with their old,
familiar yell, the division followed their daring leader over fallen
timber and through the storm of missiles, up the rugged hillside.

At one point Sheridan halted for a moment while some of
the men — myself among the number — moved aside a heavy tree-
top which obstructed the gallant rider's progress. Col. Good-
ing, of the 22nd Ind., who was near at hand, turned to the Gen-
eral and implored him to dismount, when he answered, "No,
Colonel, the Confederacy has never cast the bullet that will in-
jure me."

The only other officers whom I saw riding up the Ridge were
Adjutant McArthur, of the 24th Wisconsin, in our division,
(afterwards Lieut-Colonel of that regiment, and known as "The
Boy Colonel") and our own commander, the brave Marsh, who
rode until his horse was killed under him, and then kept on his
upward course, until he fell severely wounded. There was also
one of Sheridan's orderlies who rode up the Ridge following his
chief. EDWARD BLACK.

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 39

AFTERNOON.

During the noon hour the comrades, with their families and
friends, dined in picnic style from well filled lunch baskets, on
the Fair Grounds.

At one o'clock the boys fell in and marched to the court
house. The band, militia and Grand Army had already formed
in line in front of the county building, and at about 1:30 p. m.
the procession moved as follows:

Thomas W. Cole, marshal and J. H. Nye, aide, mounted.

Forest City Band, sixteen pieces, A. Dedrickson, leader.

Rockford Rifles, fifteen men, Capt. T. G. Lawler and Lieut.

Leland.

Rockford City Grays, thirty-two men, Capt. Fred. C. Pierce.
G. L. Nevius Post No. 1, G. A. R., seventy-five men, under

command of J. B. Nash and S. N. Jones.

Veterans of the old 74th, one hundred and fifty men, under com-
mand of Lieut. John Beatson.

The line of march was to Kishwaukee Street, thence back
on State to the Fair Grounds. Mr. H. P. Holland, to whom
the duty had been assigned, presided at the speaker's stand, and
opened the proceedings by exclaiming, "Attention, battalion."
He then said: "Now, with your permission, I will assume com-
mand of this regiment; and I consider it an honor, for there are
here more than the Morning Report showed present, effective,
the day after Kenesaw, more than went into the fight at Frank-
lin, or into either action of the two days' fight at Nashville.

Music by the band.

Mr. Holland read a letter from the Rev. Mr. Vanhorne, ex-
cusing himself from acting as Chaplain because of unavoidable
absence, and then submitted, on the part of his comrades, a res-
olution thanking the Winnebago County Agricultural Society
for the use of its buildings and grounds for this Reunion. This
was adopted by unanimous vote; and after "America" had been
sung by the quartette present, Mr. Holland introduced Hon.
Alfred Taggart, Mayor of the city, who said :

ADDRESS OF MAYOR TAGGART.

Gentlemen of the old J4th Volunteer Infantry:

On the 4th of September, 1862, there was organized in this
city, mainly of young men from Winnebago County, a regiment

40 FIRST REUNION OF THE

of soldiers — the 74th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. It was not an
organization of holiday soldiers. The country was already en-
gaged in a gigantic civil war, a war commenced without reason,
and prosecuted with a bitterness hardly paralleled, for the pur-
pose of disrupting and breaking up a united and prosperous
country. It was to engage in such a war that this regiment was
organized, and the intense earnestness of these men, as with up-
lifted hand they were mustered into the military service of the
United States, showed that each and every one realized to the
fullest extent the dangers and hardships he would be called upon
to undergo in taking part in such a struggle.

Remaining in camp for a few days, marching orders were
received, and on the 28th day of September you, men of the old
Seventy-fourth, moved for the front to actively engage in the
work you had undertaken. On that occasion the people of our
city and county came out to greet you and cheer you on, and
our people solemnly promised you, that come what should, they
would not forget you, or cease to watch over you and yours in
all your trials.

And Rockford forgot not her promise. Eagerly and earnest-
ly did her people watch after you from your going out, until,
with ranks terribly thinned by the dire carnage of battle, you
returned to them.

They saw you and watched you at Stone River and at
Chicamauga. They remembered you when at Mission Ridge.

They did not forget you at Buzzard Roost, or at Resaca.

They remembered you in that fruitless attempt to storm the
rebel works at Kenesaw Mountain, and sorely grieved over your
terrible losses ; and yet again they remembered you, when at
Jonesboro, at Franklin, and at Nashville.

And now, after eighteen years of peaceful pursuits, you come
together for the first time in reunion. You are not forgotten ;
but, ever mindful of our promise, we come again to greet you
and bid you welcome.

And to the old soldiers of other commands, and all others
meeting and joining with the old Seventy-fourth in this their
joyous first reunion, the city of Rockford gives greeting and
hearty welcome.

Rising to present the first brigade commander of the regi-
ment, Mr. Holland then said:

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 41

Ladies and Gentlemen: It is hardly necessary to say anything
by way of introducing Gen. Phillip Sidney Post to the mem-
bers of the Seventy-fourth who first met him at Louisville. To
their friends here present it may be said that General, then Col-
onel Post, was the commanding officer of the Fifty-ninth Illinois
infantry, and with his regiment had recently come in from the
Kentucky campaign, where he had done distinguished service.
Under the mode of organizing Buell's army, then in process of
formation, brigades were made up from two veteran regiments
and two regiments of the new levies. Under this plan the Sev-
enty-fourth, happily for them as it proved, were assigned to Col.
Post's brigade, and so remained for a year, receiving at his hands
the discipline and instruction which made them effective. In
fact, this regiment graduated under him. They learned how to
be soldiers, and are indebted to him for it ; and I don't think
there is a man here to-day but what will agree with me in that
respect. General Post never trifled with his men; and when he
was handling his brigade, on the march or at the front, they be-
lieved that their commander knew what he was about, and
meant business.

Gen. Post then came forward and said :

ADDRESS BY GENERAL P. SIDNEY POST.

When I accepted an invitation to be present on this occasion
and make some remarks, I did not expect to deliver an address;
and when the program for this day reached me my position on
it was a surprise. My engagements seemed to render it impos-
sible to prepare an address worthy of the regiment or the oc-
casion, but I felt that the Seventy-fourth had so often responded
to my calls that it was my duty to respond to theirs.

I am delighted with this beautiful and thriving city. Resi-
dents appear to look upon it as they do upon the blue
heaven above, and think no more of it than they do of the air
they breathe, but it strikes a stranger with wonder and delight.
I thank you for your cordial reception. It is not often that a
regiment of friends meets one at the depot, much less a regiment
of veterans.

I am happy to again meet my comrades of the Seventy-
fourth, and grateful to them for remembering me on their twenty-
first anniversary.

42 FIRST REUNION OF THE

The regiment is now of age. My connection with it began
when it was but a month old, and it was the liveliest and most
belligerent infant I ever knew.

Infants generally waste a great deal of time and energy in
trying to swallow their big toe, this one at once commenced on
salt meat and hard tack.

It was at the darkest period of the war, in 1862, that the
Seventy-fourth crossed the Ohio river. The Union armies held
little in the south except a few garrisons, and Confederate armies
menaced the north along the whole line. In Kentucky, one
army threatened Cincinnati and another Louisville.

In May of 1862 the Union forces occupied Northern Missis-
sippi and Alabama, but in August Bragg crossed the Tennessee
river. The two hostile armies, in one of the most memorable
marches on record, side by side, hastened north, first to Nash-
ville, then to Louisville. The enemy had transferred the theatre
of war from the south bank of the Tennessee to the south bank
of the Ohio ; and by such rapid marches that neither army was
able to catch its breath in time to do much fighting. The gar-
risons left behind had weakened our force until in fact it was too
weak to attack; but our friends had not been idle. At Louis-
ville we found supplies, and what was of the utmost importance,
reinforcements. The army was reorganized, and to my brigade
were attached two of as gallant regiments as ever rallied round
a flag, the Seventy-fourth and Seventy-fifth Illinois.

No more patriotic, brave and high-spirited men ever came
to the front in any cause, or in any country ; but to the require-
ments of camp life, in an active campaign, most of them were
strangers. I shall never forget the first night we marched out of
Louisville. Few events of the war caused me greater anxiety
or made a more profound impression upon me. We had march-
ed late at night, went into camp in the dark, and the men should
have taken their supper and at once gone to sleep, ready for a
movement before daybreak; but everything was new, and it was
long after midnight before the camp quieted down, many, I fear,
going without supper. I went among the men, and sent ex-
perienced soldiers to advise them, and worried a great deal more
for them than they seemed to worry for themselves; but I knew
unfed and unrested soldiers meant soldiers unable to bear the
fatigue of the next day's movement, meant the increase of sick-

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 43

ness, and the decrease of men present for duty — and within a
month of that time you all knew it, too. The Seventy-fourth
learned to get to bed when we camped, and to get into line when
called for, as quick as any regiment of men ever did in any war;
and the necessities of actual war require that things should some-
times move lively.

After tedious marches and counter-marches, in sunshine and
storm, for there was a heavy fall of snow in Kentucky in Octo-
ber of that year, we went into camp at Nashville, but not to rest,
for it was necessary that the brigade should be able, as a brigade,
to act together and execute any tactical movement known in the
evolutions of the line. Citizens who suppose a military camp
to be a place of idleness, a place where men eat and wait until
the fighting commences, are mistaken — at least, such was
not our camp. Drill, preparation, instruction, kept every man
employed. In the evening at my tent the field officers collected
as a school for instruction in the evolutions of the line. There
were regimental schools and squad and company drills, followed
by brigade drills, the first systematic brigade drill attempted in
the Army of the Cumberland, and as I have been informed, in
the United States Army. The old army is always so scattered
that there are seldom more than a few companies together, and
a brigade drill was as much of a curiosity to the old army of-
ficers as it was to the new recruits. In the earlier period of
the war we had reviews by brigade, but no drill. Our brigade
drill attracted much attention, and was frequently witnessed by
the Commander-in-Chief and his corps and division command-
ers, while we were unconscious that we were observed by those
distinguished officers. It was no child's play, and was calculated
to provoke maledictions rather than enthusiasm of the men en-
gaged in it ; but when called to act in concert in the hurry and
confusion of battle it was understood and appreciated.

When in the midst of the battle of Stone River we were com-
pelled to change front to the rear, we did it without hurry or con-
fusion; and the brigade forced its way through the enemy's line
after the battle of Chicamauga, safely and triumphantly into
Chattanooga, because of the precision of its movements and the
promptness in obeying orders. With a less disciplined command
no officer would have dared make the attempt.

I have had an opportunity since that time to see all the best

44 FIRST REUNION OF THE

armies of Europe; and while, in strictness of etiquette and all
the fuss and feathers which delight a martinet in time of peace,
they greatly excel American soldiers, yet I never saw a brigade
which could compare in tactical movements with the first brigade,
first division, twentieth army corps, in 1862 and 1863, of which
the Seventy-fourth regiment formed a part.

My name was never on the muster roll of that regiment, but
I belong to it. My military history is intimately connected with
it. I am proud of its services, of its peerless record, and I am
proud to know that I was remembered in this celebration of its
twenty-first anniversary.

Years, eventful years, have passed since we were associated
together. Infants, then in their mother's arms, are now voters
in this republic. No wonder that faces among you, once so
familiar, are hard to recognize. Years have silvered locks then
dark, and care has changed countenances which then glowed with
patriotic fervor and all the enthusiasm of early manhood. Nor
would it be strange if you failed to identify the slight and youth-
ful officer, who was your brigade commander, with the fat old
duffer who now addresses you. And yet it seems to me that if
you had not appeared in such questionable shape, if you had
come in your old-time garb, and without the disguise of years, I
could have recognized you all.

There was Col. Marsh, whose patriotic impulses led him to
the field of hardships at an age when most men would have pre-
ferred the quiet retreats of peace. There was Lieut. Col. Kerr,
brave, active, efficient. He left all that a man holds dear to
fight his country's battles, and never returned. I loved him like
a brother, and mourned his glorious but untimely fall. There
were a thousand men who went forth to make a glorious history
for their country and made a glorious history for themselves.
Their services are emblazoned upon their country's record,
and their memories should be kept ever green by their comrades
and their countrymen.

The grand record of American soldiers of this generation
will never be forgotten, but, unfortunately, the record of separ-
ate organizations has received but slight attention- Men were
too busy making history to write it, or even to furnish the data
from which it could be written. Turn to the report of the Ad-
jutant General of the State of Illinois, and you find a page head-

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. '45

ed "History of the Seventy-fourth Infantry." Under this im-
posing manifesto what is to be found? Three short paragraphs,
showing that it was mustered in and that it was mustered out;
that it arrived at Louisville, marched in my brigade, and arrived
at Nashville in November, 186'2. After the regiment actually
commenced its active life and its important services, there is not
one word. It is as though, when you became disciplined sol-
diers, an excessive spasm of modesty seized you and prevented
you from acknowledging the great deeds you performed. Your
regiment, and every regiment, ought to have had its historian,
not to write eulogies, but to preserve its daily record — the data
upon which history could be written.

An honest record, which should give every man of the Sev-
enty-fourth regiment his just dues would fill a volume; but in the
Adjutant General's report it occupies three paragraphs on a page
almost blank. There is not one word of Stone River, nor of
the Tullahoma campaign, nor of the Chicamauga and Atlanta
campaigns, not a word of Franklin or Nashville. It is a history
of a regiment with all its battles and campaigns omitted. It is
as though a biography of a great and celebrated man had been
commenced with an elaborate account of his birth and parentage,
of his measles, woooping-cough, chicken-pox and mumps, and
how he went out into the world, and then, without a reference
to his long and active life, proceeded to give an account of his
second childhood, and the resignation with which he died.

If you turn to "The Patriotism of Illinois," you will find
something more of the history of the Seventy-fourth, but all too
meagre to be of great value in writing history. The author says:
"After the army had returned to Danville, the Seventy-fourth,
together with the Twenty-second Indiana, and a section of the
Fifth Wisconsin battery, was sent back on a forced march about
thirty miles in the direction of Richmond, Ky., beyond Lowell,
on a secret and fruitless expedition, the object of which remains
unknown." This expedition was by no means fruitless. Its ob-
ject was to prevent a large force of the enemy's cavalry from de-
stroying our trains and magazines of stores. These two regi-
ments and battery at the bridge, which that cavalry intended to
cross, prevented a destructive raid, which might have seriously
interfered with the march of the army.

To persons who have never been soldiers it were manifestly

46 FIRST REUNION OF THE

impossible, in a short address, to give any just idea of a cam-
paign. They would naturally suppose a soldier's duties to be
marching, fighting, or waiting to fight, without any considera-
tion of the details, of the hard work necessary to be performed
to keep an army in motion. Let me describe a few days of ac-
tive campaign, not merely to show the uninitiated what sort of
service devolves upon a soldier, but to remind the members of
the Seventy-fourth of scenes in which they were the actors. We
crossed the Tennessee river, made the laborious march over
Sand Mountain, and went into camp at Valley Head on the fourth
day of September, just twenty years ago to-day. On the east of
us rose Lookout Mountain, twenty-two hundred feet, nearly
half a mile perpendicularly around us, and a steep road, two
miles long, wound up its side. The regiments of the brigade
were stationed at several points to guard against surprise, and
the Twentieth army corps and the cavalry began the ascent of
the mountain. Upon us devolved the onerous and important
duty of moving all the trains to the front. With details of men
stationed along the hill to help pull up the wagons, the trains
commenced moving. All day long and all night long on the
10th, llth and 12th, men and animals tugged at trains, and kept
them going up. The road was difficult, the nights very dark,
but the train moved steadily on.

Scouts reported that a force of Confederate cavalry had gone
to our rear, where a large cavalry supply train was crossing Sand
Mountain. The Seventy-fifth Illinois was sent at once to protect
it, making a march of twenty-eight miles in twenty hours, half
of the way in the night and over a rough road. The sick and
disabled accumulated until they numbered hundreds, and a tem-
porary hospital had to be provided and transportation furnished
for them back to Stevenson. On the morning of the 18th our
own ammunition train and battery was sent up the mountain.
The enemy had disappeared from that valley, and we judged they
must be concentrating somewhere, and I was unwilling to cheat
my brigade out of a fair share of the fight. We pushed on until
midnight, having marched twenty-three miles after climbing the
mountain. At two o'clock in the morning I received a dispatch
from the Commander-in-Chief directing us to hasten to Stevens
Gap and hold it all hazards. There was no need to hasten; we
were already there. From this rocky eminence, more than two

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 47

thousand feet above the valley, could be seen seventy-five thous-
and of the enemy concentrating for the destruction of our army.
Anticipating the next order, guides were provided, and the train
moved out on an old road running along the crest of the moun-
tain toward Chattanooga. At four o'clock on the morning of the
20th, the order came. It was from Garfield, chief of staff, and
when I met him in 1880, at Chicago, his first exclamation was,
"Do you remember the order I sent you from the battle-field at
Chicamauga?" The message read, "We are holding ourground;
move forward to the battle field."

Down into the very jaws of the lion we descended — the four
regiments and our artillery and ammunition train — but the large
train of supplies did not descend; it kept on the mountain crest,
and moved direct to Chattanooga.

I state this particularly, because, in a recent letter detailing
a conversation with Garfield on that Sunday, Rosecrans shows
that at that time he supposed we were in the rear of the enemy's
lines, hampered with a great and valuable train. We were in
the rear of the enemy, but we were stripped for the fight, without
a useless wheel, and fully determined to take care of ourselves.
Cannonading at our front, and attacks upon our front and flank,
warned us of our critical position. A large force of the enemy
had been sent down the Ringgold road to capture us, but our
heavy skirmish line met them boldly, and caused them to halt
and go into line of battle; and while the skirmishers were en-
gaged our column turned on a road to the left and pushed on,
followed by our skirmishers, leaving the enemy in the rear.

At one o'clock on that eventful Sunday, we came into Craw-
fish Springs. Mitchell was there with the cavalry. I told him
we were three thousand strong, fresh from the mountains, and
ready for the fight, and proposed a united attack on the rear of
the enemy. What would have been the effect of such an assault
at that critical period of the battle we can never know, for Mit-
chell concluded that, as we had nearly all the cavalry of the
army, he could not run the risk, but must make his way round
the flank of the enemy into Chattanooga. On Tuesday we came
in sight of Chattanooga, where the rest of the army had concen-
trated Monday, but the road leading there was in possession of
the enemy, with artillery in position to resist our progress; and it
seemed after all as though it might be necessary to throw our

48 FIRST REUNION OF THE

guns into the Tennessee, and make the best of our way down the
river to Bridgeport; -but before doing that we wished to put our
ammunition where it would do the most good. From the side
of Lookout Mountain our artillery poured down shot and shell
at the rate of fifty a minute. The enemy did not seem to relish
the gift; in fact, they showed an unmistakable desire to avoid it
by seeking the shelter of the wood. Instantly our regiments
were following in line of battle; the road was clear, the battery
limbered up and galloped toward Chattanooga, while the regi-
ments, as if on parade, manoeuvred so as constantly to threaten
the enemy, and protect the road, while steadily advancing in the
same direction. The last regiment crossed the bridge over Chat-
tanooga Creek, and the bridge was set on fire; and on the banks
of that creek, a mile in front of our lines, we took our position
for the defense of Chattanooga.

In my official report I had occasion to specially mention
Sergeant Charles Allen, of the Seventy-fourth regiment as hav-
ing displayed much tact and gallantry in the performance of a
delicate and important duty At the time it would have been
most improper to state that the special services were no less than
going in the night to the enemy's lines and securing information
as to their position and movements. The information was absol-
utely necessary for our safety, but it was a duty upon which no
one could be ordered; it was a duty in which one was in danger
from friend and foe, and if captured by the enemy his life would
have been forfeited, and who would have saved his name from
disgrace? I would. Had he been captured, nothing would have
prevented me from declaring that he gave his life for the safety
of his comrades and the cause of his country.

In this sketch of a few September days twenty years ago, I
have endeavored to show that a variety of duties devolved upon
an American soldier. Ours was not a war waged as wars are
waged in modern Europe, with the mayors of cities and civil gov-
ernors to act as commissaries and quartermasters, bound to sup-
ply food and lodging to the soldiers of either army which come
within their jurisdiction ; nor was it a war in which bridges and
railways were considered as of greater importance than the suc-
cess of the cause. In the Franco-German war one pier of the
bridge across the Rhine was blown up, and it was denounced
throughout Europe as vandalism. No wonder that in Europe

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 49

they thought ours was a contest between mobs. But we demon-
strated that if we had the wit to destroy a bridge when it would
embarrass the enemy, we had the genius to create one when we
wanted to use it ourselves. So little has this been thought of
that our own military writers have never given the extraordinary
engineering skill shown in our war the prominence it deserves.

When the army moved from Washington, the bridge across
the Rappahanock river, 625 feet long and 35 feet high was built
in forty hours; and the Potomac bridge at Acquia creek, 414
feet long and 82 feet high, was built in the same number of
hours. The bridge across the Chattahoochie, 780 feet long and
92 feet high, was built in four and a half days. Thirty-five and
a half miles of railway, and 455 feet of bridging, destroyed by
Hood's army in Georgia, was restored in thirteen days. Has
this ever been equaled in the annals of any war in any age, or on
any continent? The truth is that the ranks of our army were
filled with practical engineers, and the destruction of a bridge
which in Europe would have taken years to create, taxed the
combined skill and energy of our army but a few hours. This
fact alone is sufficient to demonstrate that our army, rank and
file, was filled with the most intelligent and practical soldiery ever
marshaled under banners.

The position of the first brigade, first division, Twentieth
army corps, was on the extreme right of the whole army, and it
naturally marched first in the Stone river campaign, and opened
that famous battle. At Nolensville, on the 26th of December,
having driven the enemy before us nine miles, we first encoun-
tered their artillery in position, which opened upon the Seventy-
fourth as it took its place in line on the crest of a hill. Canister
burst directly over the heads of the men, and the bullets in-
closed therein swept the ground a hundred yards in their rear.
Instead of recoiling the regiment moved slightly forward, and
again the canister burst over their heads. The din of the shells
was dreadful, and, bursting so near our heads, we were almost
deafened, but the deadly missiles fell harmlessly to the rear. We
did not lose a man.

In my first battle I had learned that the hiss of the bullet
indicated danger, but had adopted the maxim when the artillery
opened, "Go for it;" and I still hold the maxim, though in my
last battle it went for me. On the bullet question I surrendered

50 FIRST REUNION OF THE

early, but it took the whole war to satisfy me that I was not
cannon proof, but I was entirely satisfied; and now, when artil-
lery is fired, prefer to stand at the breach rather than look into
the muzzle.

Driving the enemy before us in a cold, drenching rain, we
moved on towards Murfreesborough, and on the 30th of Decem-
ber the battle opened in earnest. On the morning of the 31st,
the enemy massed his troops and passed to our right, scattering
the division sent to our right rear to prevent it, and leaving us
exposed to a flank attack. We at once changed front perpen-
dicularly to the rear to receive them. It was a magnificent sight,
as in perfect order, they moved in three lines down upon our
brigade. They were warmly welcomed with musketry and can-
ister; but, as they outnumbered us three to one in front, and
overlapped us on our right, threatening our rear, our position
was so critical that it became ludicrous, and we bethought our-
selves that,

' ' In all the trade of war, no feat

Is nobler than a brave retreat.

*****

For those that fly may fight again.

Which he can never do that's slain ;

Hence timely running is no mean part

Of conduct in the martial art."

We did not run. It was the most marvellous thing ever
seen. Thousands of men retreating before a victorious enemy
without hurry or confusion ; and in my report of the battle I
said: "The deliberation and order with which the Seventy-fourth
regiment retired is especially commended." It was a trying time,
and if an official report had permitted more of eulogy, it would
cheerfully have been given.

In "The Patriotism of Illinois," in connection with the
Seventy-fourth Illinois, the operations on the right are spoken
of as a disaster. In the interest of true history, let me state
that the commander of the army was fully advised on the 30th
that the enemy's lines extended far to the right of our army,
and that our right would be turned; and I was informed before
we fired a gun on that day, that we were expected to fall back
fighting, so as to allow the left of our army to be pushed for-
ward into Murfreesborough. We fought when victory was im-
possible— defeat certain; a service most important to the coun-

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 51

try, but which seldom receives proper appreciation, either in
reports or history. We were never expected to hold our ground
with such odds against us; and in retiring, as we did after hold
ing the enemy in check, we contributed to the general plan of
the battle.

The battle of Stone river continued, and on the 2d of Janu-
ary we crossed Stone river to repel an attack on the left flank.
The stream was swollen with recent rains and cold as ice, but
the brigade plunged into it with cheers, and hurried forward
over the dead and dying, where the steady roll of musketry told
the men the fight was fiercest. All that stormy night the men
stood by their arms without fires; the rain did not discomfort
them, for they had been soaked in fording the river. Major
Dutcher, of the Seventy-fourth, was in charge of the pickets,
and dark as it was, contested for the fields and woods in our
front; and when our pickets were driven in, our battery roared
forth its defiance and helped to make night hideous.

We held our position on the 3d, the rain continuing in tor-
rents, but in the night word came to me that Stone river was
rising, so that we might be isolated, and Rosecrans feared the
enemy might concentrate on us and destroy us. At two o'clock
in the morning the battery was quietly drawn off, and at four
o'clock the men, in profound darkness and silence, withdrew,
and again plunged into the swollen stream.

During the same night the enemy withdrew. Breckenridge
was in command of that portion of the enemy, and I afterwards
asked him why they retreated. He said, "We were freezing
and starving. Human nature could endure it no longer." If
ever men came near freezing and starving we did in that mid-
winter campaign.

We had the peculiar and unusual honor to fight on both
flanks; as long as the right flank was in danger we stood by it,
and when the left was attacked, we went to that. We twice
tested the temperature, and measured the depth of Stone river;
and when, in the darkness of that morning, some soldier, shiver-
ing upon the bank, vehemently issued an order to dam the river,
I countermanded it, and told him not to dam it, but to wade it,
though I admitted it ought to be bridged.

At Stone river the brigade lost in killed, wounded and miss-
ing 324 men, of which the Seventy-fourth lost eighty-five — a

U. OF ILL UB.

52 FIRST REUNION OF THE

larger number than any of the other regiments; and I believe
that no regiment of the army of the Cumberland contributed
more to the glorious triumph of that campaign than the regi-
ment whose twenty-first anniversary we celebrate.

I have here briefly and imperfectly sketched but a few days
of your toil as a protest against that history which purports to
give your years of active service in three paragraphs. While
there are survivors of the regiment living, they should meet and
fill up the blank history. Every year this is becoming more
important and less possible to be accomplished. The friends
and descendants of soldiers are increasing, and every one of
them should know and read of the deeds of their hero ancestors.
The rising generation should learn that wealth alone does not
give power and stability to a state. Wealth and luxury have
often destroyed states — they never created one. Wealth is a
mere fungus, which attaches itself to a healthy nation to suck
from it its life's blood. Nations have always been created and
preserved by gallant deeds; their strength and glory depend
alone upon the heroic spirit of their citizens. I use the term
heroic advisedly and in its true sense. It is that elevation of
sentiment, that entire abnegation of self in the midst of peril,
that voluntary exposure of everything one holds dear, even life
itself, which converts a man into a hero in its first and highest
sense, and in that sense no man was ever proved to be a hero
unless confronted by danger.

A general may be in command of an army and be successful
in a battle, but he is not the hero of that battle. No battle ever
had a hero — it had heroes, for a hero is one transformed by dan-
ger. It is a personal honor, a distinction open alike to all ranks.
The private, pushing forward in the deadly assault, is no less a
hero than the officer on his charger at his side. If the general
who ordered the assault would share the title, he must also
share their danger, for as it is acquired by exposure to death.
Like death it levels all ranks. Power, influence, rank and station
do not make a hero, and no man ever became a hero by proxy.
The success of his soldiers may win fame for a general, who,
without personal risk, directed their movements, and popular
enthusiasm may thoughtlessly proclaim him the "hero," but it
only gives point to the bitter sarcasm: "Soldiers fight, and the
general becomes a hero." A commander would plan in vain,
unless under him were heroes who dared to execute his orders.

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 53

The loyal people of the republic, men and women, whose
earnest patriotism and constant encouragement was never with-
held, contributed to the cause. Statesmen, who proclaimed and
eloquently defended the indivisibility of the nation, contributed
to the cause. Generals, whose thoughtful care and ability sup-
plied disciplined and marshaled armies, contributed to the cause;
and soldiers who grappled with the foe contributed to the cause.
If it be proper to assign peculiar merit to one class, when so many
contributed, the actors in the bloody drama cannot pass un-
marked. They were as patriotic as the most loyal citizen. They
were as eloquent as the most patriotic statesman, for deeds are
more eloquent than words. To intelligently execute plans
amidst the surprises ever occurring on the battle-field, requires
as high an order of ability as in unopposed quiet to make them.
Whatever others contributed they contributed; but, when the
crisis arrived by which the country must be saved or lost, they
were yet to furnish something more — courageous action, profound
prudence and unshaken fortitude. To the men with muskets in
their. hands was committed the task of saving the country; and
these heroes, privates and officers, who, with steady nerves and
dauntless intrepidity in the midst of all the nameless horrors of
the battle-field, pressed home the last argument of states, have
claims upon our gratitude second to none.

Looking over our broad land, say whether her defenders are
entitled to gratitude. Freed from domestic intrigue and appre-
hension of dissolution, unlimited in credit and enjoying bound-
less prosperity, secure in the knowledge that, whenever danger
threatens, worthy sons of heroic sires will spring forward in her
defense, this republic to-day, on the grandest scale, illustrates
the capacit)' of man for self-government.

Comrades of the Seventy-fourth, the value of your patriotic
and gallant record cannot be estimated or described. It is not
alone the sacrifices you made, and the toil you endured; not alone
the cheerfulness with which you marched, and valor with which
you fought; not alone the services you rendered in averting the
dismemberment and destruction of the republic,— you, and your
comrades who sleep in unknown graves upon distant fields, have
furnished an example to this generation and to all future gener-
ations which will be a sacred legacy; and long after the monu-
ments which mark your resting places have crumbled to decay,

54 FIRST REUNION OF THE

the recollection of your glorious example and achievements will
stir the blood of patriotic men, and animate defenders of your
country.

END OF FIRST REUNION.

"Marching through Georgia" was now sung by the quartet,
the entire audience joining in chorus, with very pleasing effect.

In the absence of the Rev. Mr. Vanhorne, Dr. Butler was
introduced by Mr. Holland, who jokingly remarked that Gen.
Post, while paying the regiment most flattering compliments,
had omitted to refer to its early and contimious piety, he there-
fore left that task to Dr. Butler, who had served as chaplain
during the war, and might, perhaps, be better qualified to speak
on that head.

The reverend Doctor, as he stepped forward, was greeted
with a storm of applause. His speech was full of humor and
fun. He said: "Mr. Vanhorne has got out of this thing to-
day by saying he had an invitation to a funeral, and I wish they
had sent me an invitation to marry some one, and then I would
have got out of it, too. You have just heard such a very elo-
quent discourse from Gen. Post that, if you had sense you
wouldn't listen to anything else to-day, and the best thing you
can do is to let me off (cries of "No! No!! Go on). I was an old
soldier, continued the Doctor, but they wouldn't give me a
chance to die for my country. Alluding to the Irish Brigade,
the Doctor sang amidst loud cheers:

" In 1861, when the war had first begun," etc.

Dr. Butler then went on to make several humorous allu-
sions, all of which were wittily applicable in some way to the
74th regiment, and the occasion. He said that he had heard it
remarked that these reunions were all nonsense, but he thought
quite different.

The old soldiers ought to get together, so if they found the
rascally politicians going to run the countrj', they could say.
"Hold on, there, we saved this country, and now we are going
to take care of it." (Loud cheers.) He disapproved of war
though admitting that national defense was necessary, and in
this conection he said:

"Were I king of France,

Or, what's better, Pope of Rome,
I would have no fighting men abroad,
Nor weeping maids at home."

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 55

All the world should be at peace ;

Or, if kings must show their might,
Why, let those that make the quarrels

Be the only men to fight !

Referring to the power of nations, the reverend gentleman
said that peoples are not so much powerful according to their
numbers, as by the spirit of liberty and justice that rules them.
He then alluded to Gen. Rosecrans' official report of the battle
of Stone River, and made a very apt hit by quoting the general's
concluding remarks: " I cannot but think that this victory has
been the gift. of God — not to us, but to God, belongs the honor."
The doctor then retired amidst loud cheering and cries of "Go
on! Go on !"

Mr. Holland then thanked the large audience for the kind-
ness shown and the welcome given to the 74th. " We thank
you, good friends," said he in conclusion, " for your kindness in
turning out, and the attentions you have bestowed ; and we shall
carry away in our hearts to-day the memory of this greeting you
have given us here, and the hearty and active good-will received
at your hands in every period of our career."

The proceedings then terminated with music by the band.

Proceedings Second Reunion

September 4fh, 1554, RocKford, Illinois

PRESENT 136.

BUSINESS MEETING.

The regiment met in Rockford, Illinois, at Grand Army Hall,
and at 10:30 a. m., was called to order by the Secretary. The
President, Robert Simpson, being temporarily absent, A. J.
Guilford was called to the chair.

By unanimous consent the reading of the minutes of the
last meeting was dispensed with. Some discussion as to the
time and place of next meeting followed, when it was decided to
meet again in Rockford, on September 4, 1885.

The committee appointed at the reunion of the year previous,
to draft a Constitution and By-Laws, reported; and upon motion
the report, with some minor amendments, was adopted. As
adopted it read as follows:

CONSTITUTION.

ARTICLE 1. The name and title of this association shall be
the "Society of the Seventy-fourth Illinois Volunteers," and
every honorably discharged soldier of that regiment may become
a member of said Society.

ARTICLE 2. Honorably discharged soldiers of other regi-
ments in the Union service may be elected honorary members.

ARTICLE 3. The objects of the society shall be to gather up
and perpetuate the history of the Seventy-fourth Illinois Volun-
teers and its individual members, to revive the old spirit of loy-
ality and patriotism, and to renew those friendships cemented
by years of common danger and common glory.

58 FIRST REUNION OF THE

ARTICLE 4. To effect these objects the Society shall be or-
ganized by the election of a President, ten Vice Presidents, one
from each company, a Secretary and a Treasurer, each to serve
one year or until his succesor is chosen. The time and place
of each meeting shall be fixed by vote at each meeting of the So-
ciety; and during the interim its affairs sfiall be managed by the
President, Vice Presidents, Secretary and Treasurer, acting as
an executive committee.

BY-LAWS.

1. Any honorably discharged soldier of the Seventy-fourth
Illinois Volunteers will become a member of this Society upon
signing the Constitution and By- Laws, or by sending to the Sec-
retary his name and address.

2. The Treasurer shall pay out moneys only upon the written
order of the Secretary and President; and at each meeting of the
Society shall make a written report of all receipts and disburse-
ments.

3. No member of the Society shall speak more than once, nor
longer than five minutes, upon any question of business without
the consent of the Society first obtained.

4. Cushing's Manual shall be the authority for the govern-
ment and regulation of all meetings of the Society.

The Constitution and By-Laws having been adopted, officers
for the ensuing year were elected as follows:

H. P. HOLLAND, President.

VICE PRESIDENTS.

Amasa Hutchins Company A

E. D. Pettibone « B

Robert Simpson " C

J. H. Nye « D

Elias Cosper " E

Levi Sanders " F

John Waldy " G

G. S. Lockwood H

Jacob Wagner " I

Daniel Hawn <•' K

JOHN H. SHERRATT, Secretary.
M. S. PARMELE, Treasurer.

Comrade Simpson announced that the Winnebago County
Agricultural Association extended to the members of the Seventy-
fourth an invitation to the Fair, and upon motion the invitation

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 59

was accepted with thanks, and it was decided to assemble at the
G. A. R. Hall at one p. m., and march in a body to the Fair
Grounds, under command of their President, Robert Simpson. It
was further announced that arrangements had been made for a
banquet at the Armory at 7:30 p. m., and the members were all
requested to be present with their lady friends.
Upon motion the Society adjourned.

EVENING SESSION.

At 7:30 p. m. the members of the regiment, with their fam-
ilies and invited guests, convened at the Rifles Armory, where a
supper had been provided under the direction of the committee
of arrangements. The divine blessing was invoked by Rev. G.
R. Vanhorne, after which all present addressed themselves to a
discussion of the ample spread. Full justice having been done
to the rations, the assembly was called to order by the Presi-
dent of the Society, Hosmer P. Holland, who remarked as
follows:

"The committee who have had in charge this, our second
reunion, have made every effort to procure the presence here
with you this evening of Gen. W. S. Rosecrans and others, who,
it was thought, you would be glad to meet. From several of
these gentlemen letters have been received, which, with your
permission, I will now read to you. And first I will submit to
you the brief communication of our old commander, General
Rosecrans, which, short as it is, in his perfect knowledge of what
the Seventy-fourth was, and of what brigade that regiment form-
ed a part, reveals a characteristic of the man which lay at the
very root of his success as the head of the Army of the Cumber-
land.

I refer to that surprising and-thorough knowledge of details
exhibited by him at every stage of their progress, in respect to
the organization of the troops, so that now, after more than
twenty years have passed, he remembers the part taken by this
regiment in the action at Stone River. While the Army of the
Cumberland at times met with reverses, and was, occasionally,
checked by the enemy, its campaign was, from the outset, a
steady advance. It never retreated. Having once gained, it
always held, its ground. Looking back now we can readily see,
as we could not when events were transpiring, that this steady

60 FIRST REUNION OF THE

and sure advance was owing to the thorough preparations always
made by our chief before ordering a forward movement — prep-
arations somtimes so prolonged as to excite impatience among
the waiting people at home.

We now see that delays, which were then inexplicable, arose
from the inexorable demand for such necessary preparations as
would not only assure probable success, but provide for possible
disaster. And now, comrades, having said thus much by way
of introduction, I read the following from "Old Rosy:"

AUGUSTA, Maine, Aug. 27, 1884.
HOSMER P. HOLLAND, Rockford, 111.

Dear Sir: I have your kind favor of the 19th inst., and very
much regret that I cannot be present at the reunion of the sur-
vivors of the gallant Seventy-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
It would afford me very especial pleasure, remembering as I do,
the gallant services of Post's brigade, and the distinguished be-
havior of the regiment at Stone River. God bless them all,
yourself included. Yours very truly,

W. S. ROSECRANS.

From Gen. Philip Sidney Post, who fully expected to be
present, the following was read:

GALESBURG, 111., Aug 31, 1884.
HOSMER P. HOLLAND, ESQ., Rockford, 111.

My Dear Sir: The fates are against me. I had hoped to be
with the Seventy-fourth regiment at its second reunion, but I
regret to say that circumstances beyond my control indicate that
it will be impossible. The first reunion, celebrating the twenty-
first anniversary of the muster-in of the regiment, is green in
my memory; — the beautiful city of Rockford, with its thriving
and varied industries, the crystal river with its picturesque views,
the splendid assembly which graced the occasion on the fair
grounds, and above all the surviving veterans of a regiment
which had rendered itself immortal on contested and blood}'
fields, and had won a proud name in the grandest war of history
— grandest whether measured by the numbers engaged, the ex-
tent of the theatre of operations, or the results attained for the
benefit of civilization. As the first brigade commander of the
Seventy-fourth regiment, appreciating all it had to contend with,
all it endured and all it accomplished, it is my privilege and
duty to be present at its organized reunions. Assure each and
all of my comrades of my profound regret that I am unable to
join them on this occasion.

Very sincerely yours, PHILIP SIDNEY POST.

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 61

From Gen. Nathan Kimball, who was in command of our
brigade during a portion of the Georgia campaign :

OGDEN, Utah, Aug. 23, 1884.
HOSMER P. HOLLAND, Rockford, 111.

Dear Sir: Your letter of July 20th, kindly inviting me to at-
tend the reunion of the Seventy-fourth regiment Illinois Infantry
at Rockford, on the 4th of September next, was duly received.
I have delayed in answering until now, hoping that I might be
enabled to assure you that I would be with you, but I regret
that I have to say that it will be impossible for me to do so.

It would be a pleasure to me once more to meet with the
surviving heroes of that old regiment, and with them honor the
memory of those of our comrades who gave their lives in defense
of our government against the traitors who strove to destroy it.
Well do I remember the daring and devoted courage of the Sev-
enty-fourth in those terrible battles at Kenesaw Mountain, June
27th, when the noble Kerr, Lieutenant Colonel, lost his life while
leading the regiment into the enemy's works, and at Peach Tree
Creek, July 20th, when, with the Seventy-third and others, they
defeated and drove from the field the enemy, who outnumbered
them over five to one. God bless each and every surviving com-
rade, and the widows and orphans of the dead.

Accept my thanks for the invitation, greet each old comrade
for me, and believe me to be, ever,

Faithfully your comrade,

NATHAN KIMBALL.

From Gen. Frank T. Sherman, who also commanded the
brigade during a part of 1864:

CHICAGO, 111., Sept. 1st, 1884.
H. P. HOLLAND, Rockford, 111.

Dear Sir: It is with regret that I have to inform you, and
through you, the members of the Seventy-fourth Illinois Infantry
Volunteers, that I will be unable to meet them on the 4th inst. ,
as I fully expected to do upon receipt of your kind invitation.

I trust and hope that your reunion will prove all that could
be expected, and that the memories aroused by the bringing
together of the surviving veterans will prove a source of joy
taken from the troublous time of war, in the several parts taken
by all, to maintain the integrity of the Union by the men of the
Seventy-fourth.

Again expressing my regret that matters pressing and can-
not be denied, preclude the possibility of being with you at your
present reunion. I am, Sir,

Respectfully and truly yours,

F. T. SHERMAN:

62 FIRST REUNION OF THE

From Capt. Geo. Q. Gardner, who commanded the Fifth
Wisconsin battery after Pinney received his mortal wound at
Stone River:

DECORAH, Iowa, Aug. 20, 1884.
HOSMER P. HOLLAND, ESQ., Rockford, 111.

Dear Sir and Comrade: To say that I was pleased and grat-
ified on receipt of your kind invitation to be present and partici-
pate in the reunion of that fine regiment, the Seventy-fourth Il-
linois, is a feeble expression of my feelings. I have not received
anything for a long time that pleased me more than your invita-
tion, and it is my intention to accept it and be present, if possi-
ble to leave home. I always liked the Seventy-fourth, and felt
no little pride in knowing that the regiment thought well of the
Fifth Wisconsin battery. The reason I liked the Seventy-fourth
was because the officers and men were courteous and well-
behaved on all occasions, and steady and reliable in the face of
the enemy, when the situation "tried men's souls."

I have with pleasure read the proceedings of your first re-
union, and must say that it was exceedingly interesting to me,
as it led me over a portion of my own army life and experience,
and revived memories of Perryville, Stone River, Tullahoma,
Chicamauga, the hardships of camp, marches and battle-fields,
that will never be forgotten so long as there are any land-marks
left, in the shape of survivors, to refer to them. As time inter-
venes the hardships become almost obliterated from memory,
but the heroism and glory stand out in bolder relief and shine
brighter each year.

I well remember when the Seventy-fourth and Seventy-fifth
joined us, and how I pitied the poor fellows during the march from
Louisville to Perryville. Our company picked up a great deal
of surplus stuff cast aside by the raw and weary Sucker State
volunteers. I remember that just before our battery went into
action at Perryville, the Seventy-fourth stood in line in rear of
us, and how surprised I was to learn they did not go into action
with us. When I saw the poor Seventy-fifth being torn so ter
ribly by the leaden storm from that deadly grove or wood, I
thought it was the Seventy-fourth, and did not learn to the con-
trary until the next morning. The Seventy-fifth met with a ter-
rible first experience. I have never ceased to harshly criticize
the author of the order that sent our little brigade into that use-
less charge against a body of men that had almost annihilated
McCook's whole corps. I become angry when I think of it, as
it was utterly useless and uncalled for. It is a matter of history
that our battery, with two small veteran regiments and one
brand-new regiment, were directed against a whole corps of vet-
eran Confederate troops, entirely concealed in the woods and
flushed with victory, having almost crushed the troops opposing

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 63

them. I well remember that the next day I could not learn of a
man in our company nor in the regiments that saw a rebel during
the charge. All that could be seen was the edge of the woods
and a bank of smoke. Our infantry was shattered and butcher-
ed before it could ascertain the work really desired of it. It was
nothing but a picnic for the enemy. Our battery came off with
the loss of only one killed, but we were saved by the position
we occupied, which was favorable for us, the infantry being
shoved up against the woods and enemy.

Hoping that you will excuse and forgive this long-winded
letter, and again thanking you for your kindly consideration,
I am, sincerely yours, GEO. Q. GARDNER.

Upon the conclusion of these letters, a quartet, consisting
of the Messrs. Emerson, Wellington, Ransom and True, who
had kindly volunteered their services, were called upon for an
old-time army song. They responded with "Rally Round the
Flag, Boys," and again, at intervals during the evening, enliven-
ed the proceedings with the familiar music of twenty years ago ;
all present joined in the chorus.

The President announced that a comrade, who was com-
petent and fully equal to the task, had compiled a history of the
first campaign of the regiment. Capt. John H. Sherratt was
called upon, and stepping forward, said:

FIRST CAMPAIGN SEVENTY FOURTH ILLINOIS.

BY JOHN H. SHERRATT.

Ladies and Comrades: In presenting to you a sketch of our
first campaign, from Louisville to Murfreesboro, I promise to be
as brief as an intelligent grouping of the great events of the in-
tervening three months will allow. Fortunately, comrade Hol-
land, by his excellent history, read at our reunion of a year ago,
has relieved me from the necessity of going into regimental de-
tails, and we can look to-night upon the scene as a whole, of
which we formed a part.

In July, 1862, all of Tennessee, north and west of the Cum-
berland Mountains, was held by the Union forces, while Bragg,
with the main body of the rebel army, was at Chattanooga.
Two months later Nashville was the only point south of Louis-
ville flying the Union flag. Buell's whole army, except one
division left at Nashville, had been forced back to the Ohio; and
that his army was not destroyed on the banks of Green River
was owing wholly to the ineficiency of the rebel commander.

64 FIRST REUNION OF THE

At Louisville, Buell's force was doubled in numbers by the
thousands of new levies that were hurried forward to his support,
and again enabled him to take the offensive.

With these thousands came the Seventy-fourth Illinois, and
about midnight on the last day of September we crossed the
pontoon bridge over the Ohio, and bivouaced in the streets of
Louisville.

Here we were brigaded with the Twenty-second Indiana,
Fifty-ninth and Seventy-fifth Illinois, and Pinney's Fifth Wis-
consin battery, forming the thirtieth brigade, ninth division,
third corps, army of the Ohio. In the reorganization, the old
and new regiments were divided nearly equally in the different
brigades. This added greatly to the efficiency of the new troops;
but that it had its disadvantages also was apparent to us all.
The Seventy-fourth was armed with the newest of Enfield rifles,
and well clothed. The Twenty-second Indiana, as you know,
were armed with old Belgian muskets, and clothed with the
righteousness of their cause, if not with modesty. Six weeks
afterwards, when we arrived at Nashville, by some sort of leger-
demain which we failed to understand at the time, we were sur-
prisingly short of everything that adds to the comfort of a regi-
ment, while the Twenty-second Indiana were well armed with
Enfield rifles, and had blossomed out in uniforms that wore to
us a very familiar look.

How our company commanders accounted for the loss of
so many guns, has always been to me a matter of inquiring
interest; but it is more than likely that they charged them off
as "lost in action," which could always be relied upon to cover
a multitude of shortages, if not a multitude of sins.

Long before daylight, on the first of October, we were
aroused; arid selecting each a rubber and woolen blanket, and
sending everything else with our knapsacks into store, we set
our faces toward the South, -and our first campaign was begun.

How little we knew of the necessities of a soldier's life.
Our knapsacks were crowded with everything that we did not
need. Among other treasures, I remember now that I had a
pocket dictionary and a copy of "Paradise Lost;" but of tin
plates, cups, knives, forks and spoons, we were totally deficient.
Just as we were passing out of Louisville, a string of tin cups
hung providentially at a shop door, and Capt. Lakin was in-

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 65

spired to buy twenty-five of them; and this was the whole outfit
for cooking and drinking of the eighty men of Co. K. It took
us several weeks to get fully stocked up with frying-pans, coffee-
pots and other necessary bric-a-brac; and even now I can see
the lambs of the Seventy-fourth rushing for every tin shop in
every town on our route through Kentucky.

Buell's active army numbered 70,000 men, and was com-
posed of three corps of three divisions each, each division hav-
ing three brigades, generally of four regftnents and a battery.
One division (Sill's) moved eastward toward Frankfort and
Lexington, while the rest of the army moved southeast; and on
October 4th, rendezvoused at Bardstown, from which the enemy
had retreated. At Bardstown we were encamped high upon the
side of a hill, one of a vast amphitheater of hills that held the
whole army, and was lit up with a thousand camp-fires. The
scene was one never to be forgotten, and which language fails to
describe. As a camping ground, however, it had its incon-
veniences; and several times during the night we changed our
location, by simply sliding down hill while asleep.

Our progress was very slow, as the enemy defended every
foot of the ground, and portions of the army were obliged to
make wide detours to find water. It was not until the morning
of the eighth of October that we arrived near the little village
of Perryville, about fifty miles southeast of Louisville, where,
for the numbers engaged, was fought one of the fiercest battles
of the war. Bragg had been away to Frankfort, installing in of-
fice a provisional Governor for Kentucky. In the midst of the
proceedings they were interrupted by the advance of Sill's div-
ision, which had moved eastward from Louisville. The Gov-
ernor, with great discretion, ran away, and Bragg prepared to
meet what he supposed to be, the main body of Buell's army.
To do this he further weakened his force at Perryville, dividing
his army into two nearly equal bodies of 23,000 men each; the
left wing at Perryville, and the right wing about forty miles to
the north, protecting Frankfort and Lexington. At the same
time he ordered Polk, in command at Perryville, to break up
the force in his front, move northward, and with their combined
forces they would fall upon Buell's main army, thus beating it
in detail. The plan was well conceived had his information been
correct; but at this very time Buell's whole force, except Sill's

66 SECOND REUNION OF THE

one division, had been concentrated at Perryville. Curiously
enough, while Bragg thought thatBuell confronted him at Frank-
fort, Buell supposed that Bragg's main force was at Perryville;
and so the battle of Perryville was fought, each of these marvel-
lous strategists supposing that the other was somewhere else.
With 58,000 men ready to strike, Buell delayed till the next day,
and the one great opportunity of a life-time was lost. Had he
attacked at once with his whole force, he must inevitably have
crushed the enemy in his front, and by throwing himself upon
the rebel line of retreat, have compelled the surrender or dis-
persion of Bragg's whole army.

At two p. m., Polk, to carry out his part of the rebel plan,
moved to the attack. He struck McCook's corps on the left,
and Sheridan's division of Gilbert's corps in the center ; and
from that time till dark these three divisions, with the assistance
of a portion of Mitchell's division, were left to struggle alone.
Nearly two-thirds of our army never fired a gun. It was not till
four o'clock that McCook sent word to Buell that a battle was
in progress; and, as a matter of fact, the battle was nearly over
before Buell knew that it had begun. At this time our whole
left wing had been forced back, and our brigade (Gooding's)
which had been drawn up since noon in a corn field, just in the
rear of where our line was pushed the hardest, was sent in to
stem the tide. And here came in one of those peculiar accidents
that mark the "fortunes of war." When our brigade was sent
to the left, for some reason that I never learned, the Seventy-
fourth was moved to the right. Our part of the battle consisted
in dodging shells and bullets that passed over the line in front,
and in guarding some rebel prisoners during the night; but with-
in two minutes after our companions in arms had left us they
encountered the enemy; and according to the Count de Paris,
in the best history of the civil war yet written, sustained almost
alone for two hours, the shock of the rebel forces. How well
they did it, and at what a fearful cost, was apparent to us the
next morning, when, drawn up in line, our regiment presented
a front nearly equal to the other three. This one brigade lost
500 men out of a total of 1,500 in action, while our whole loss
was about 4,400; the rebel loss being 1,000 less. This was
the one battle of the war in which we were, to use an expression
of the time, "spoiling for a fight." We believed that the call

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 67

for "600,000 more" would soon end the war, and that this was
positively our last chance for a battle. How little we compre-
hended the magnitude of the contest in which we were engaged,
and how little we knew of the many weary years that were to fol-
low. Could the veil have been lifted and the future disclosed,
how many of that great army, living and dead, would have had
the courage to go forward to the end?

The rebels, at last aware that they had attacked a greatly
superior force, and had been saved from annihilation only by
greater blunders on our part, withdrew during the night. They
hastily abandoned Frankfort and Lexington, and bent every en-
ergy to concentrate their army and secure their line of retreat.
Even now, had Buell been equal to the occasion, he would, with
his overwhelming force, have moved at once on their line of com-
munications and compelled Bragg to fight at a disadvantage,
with the probable result of his total destruction.

Instead of this, he hovered around the battle field for three
days, waiting for Sill with his division, and when at last lie
moved the golden opportunity was gone. The enemy, with a
united force, was safe on its line of retreat, and passed leisurely
out of the State through Cumberland Gap, its wagons laden
with the spoils of Kentucky. Minor engagements with their
rear guard, when pressed too closely, closed this part of the
campaign.

We were now in Southeastern Kentucky, Bragg was safe on
his way to Knoxville, where he would strike the railroad leading
to Chattanooga, and on to Nashville. It needed but little dis-
cernment to fortell his presence at an early date in middle Ten-
nessee; and, as in the summer, he and Buell had engaged in a
foot race for Louisville, so again they set their whole forces in
motion for Nashville, where we arrived Nov. 6th, the Seventy-
fourth leading the advance on the last day. We arrived none
too soon, as our old enemy was there before us, and the day
before had made an attack upon the city. I shall not stop to
recount the incidents and hardships of that long and exhausting
march. Its effects were seen in the decimated ranks of our
regiment, only about half the number reaching Nashville that
had set out from Louisville six weeks before. The others
lay in farm houses and hospitals along the route, victims of
exposure and fatigue. First we suffered from heat and an un-

68 SECOND REUNION OF THE

precedented drouth. The springs and ponds were dry, and even
rivers were reduced to stagnant pools. Afterwards came the
autumnal rains, and later, snow. We were without tents, and,
after Perryville, without blankets, for someone, as a cap sheaf
of stupidity to this blundering campaign, had ordered us to pile
our blankets when we were ordered into action, and they are
probably piled there yet, for ever after they were "lost to sight,
though to memory dear."

At Lebanon we received our knapsacks and overcoats that
had been left at Louisville, and when we broke camp next
morning, the fields were strewn with the thousands of useless
articles with which we had loaded ourselves upon leaving home.
The "spoils of Trafalgar" were as nothing compared with what
we left behind us. It was here that I sacrificed my dictionary
and "Paradise Lost."

At Bowling Green, Ky., on October 30th, Buell was relieved
by Rosecrans, and the "Army of the Ohio" was, under that great
leader, to thereafter win imperishable renown as the "Army of
the Cumberland." Its organization was but little, if any,
changed, though several changes were made in its subordinate
commanders. Those gallant soldiers, Post and Davis, had suc-
ceeded Gooding and Mitchell in command of our brigade and
division, while McCook had succeeded Gilbert in command of
the corps. In bidding Gilbert goodby, I think I hazard nothing
in saying, that of all the corps commanders that the war pro-
duced, he was the poorest. Thus officered we became the first
brigade, first division of the right wing, Crittendon commanding
the left wing, while the center was entrusted to that grand old
hero, "the noblest Roman of them all" — Geo. H. Thomas.

The six weeks spent in and around Nashville were busy
ones. The army was thoroughly drilled and accustomed to act
together in those larger evolutions of the brigade and division.
Stores of all kinds were accumulated. Camp guard, picket
duty, foraging and other expeditions, with an occasional day on
the fortifications, filled in the time, and relieved us from ennui or
idleness. Here we received our first ration of flour, and the
boys soon developed into culinary artists of no mean propor-
tions. It was an inspiring sight to witness their evolutions with
a pan of batter, and no doubt many of you have since rendered
the lives of your wives miserable by expatiating upon your

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 69

accomplishments. For the benefit of a patient and long-suffering
woman-kind, I propose to put on record the fact that your bis-
cuits were heavy, your doughnuts were fried in smoky grease,
and even that your griddle cakes were not above suspicion. I
know it's treason to say so, but we are getting old, and before
going to our long account, should make some atonement for
our years of false pretensions. "An open confession is good
for the soul." The corn was now ripe, and we increased our
stock of knowledge and supplies by the making of hulled corn.
You all know the process. First, boil it in ashes, give it a
thorough rubbing to remove the hulls; then follows several
boilings in fresh water to remove the lye. My experience in
this direction was one of fascinating interest. Taking our lar-
gest camp kettle, I shelled it full, and with a pan of ashes went
to the creek, built a fire and commenced operations. Now the
most natural thing in the world was for that corn to swell. As
the scientists of to-day would say, it had within it the life and
potency of tremendous possibilities; and yet, when I saw it ap-
proach and froth over the top of that kettle, it came to me as a
revelation. It soon exhausted the slender resources of our mess,
and the whole company was put under requisitions for vessels
to hold the surplus. It grew like Jonah's gourd, and when the
trouble was all over, the harvest garnered, I thought to recipro-
cate the kindness of my friends by supplying them out of my
abundance. Unfortunately they became suspicious of my mo-
tives. They conceived the idea that I was " stuck" on hulled
corn, and wanted to unload; and so the last of that transaction
was worse than the first.

It was Rosecrans' intention to move on the enemy just as
soon as he could see a probability of success. In cavalry he
was greatly deficient, while in infantry the opposing forces were
nearly equal. At this time Jeff Davis visited Bragg at Mtirfrees-
boro, and as a result of that interview, Bragg committed the
fatal mistake of sending one of his divisions and Forest's cavalry
to operate against Grant in Mississippi and Western Tennessee,
while Morgan with his force of cavalry was sent into Kentucky
to prey upon our communications. This coming to the know-
ledge of Rosecrans decided him to move at once, although his
preparations were far from complete.

Early on the morning of December 26th, we struck our

70 SECOND REUNION OF THE

tents, the sick with the baggage were sent to Nashville, and in
a cold and pouring rain the advance on .Murfreesboro com-
menced. Crittenden took the direct road, Thomas the Franklin
road, and McCook, to whose corps we were attached, covered
the ground between. The enemy retired to the banks of Stone
river, covering Murfreesboro, leaving behind three brigades,
two batteries and their cavalry to resist our advance. McCook
encountered their pickets at almost the start, and in the after-
noon a sharp engagement was fought at Nolensville, in which
the Seventy-fourth bore a prominent part. Here occurred an
incident of pathetic interest, which made a deep impression
upon all who saw it. Our line was being advanced against a
battery posted in one of the denies of the hills to dispute our
passage. As we approached a farm house, a young rebel
cavalryman, who had lingered too long at his home on the
retreat, ran out and attempted to escape. We heard him say,
"Good-by, mother," which proved to be his final leave-taking
for this world, for as he leaped into his saddle he was killed.

The night of the 30th found us in line of battle 43,000
strong, about two miles from and facing Murfreesboro, the
enemy being in our immediate front. Our left, under Crittenden,
rested on Stone river, while the center, under Thomas, and the
right, under McCook, extended southerly about three miles to
the Franklin pike. Rosecrans had planned to cross Stone
River early in the morning, break up the rebel right and throw
himself between Murfreesboro and their army. For this pur-
pose his left and center were heavily massed. It was a curious
coincidence that Bragg had also massed heavily on his left with
a view to an attack at the same time on our right. Here then
were two opposing generals, with nearly equal forces, and with
the same plan of battle. It is plain that the advantage must
rest with the earlier attack; and the d'elay occasioned by our
crossing Stone River gave to the enemy this advantage. Nor
was this all. Our right had been posted as if to invite a dis-
aster. Instead of being massed for defense, it was weak, ex-
tended, and stuck out into air. For this McCook was responsible.
That the most was not made of the position as it was, Johnson,
whose division held the extreme right, must bear the blame. He
had placed one of his three brigades a mile and a half to the
rear, too far away for a support, and with it had established his

SEVENTY- FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 71

headquarters. Think of a division commander spending the
night at such a time one and a half miles in the rear of his line
of battle. Here, then, was the situation on the last day of the
year 1862, when with the rising sun the enemy moved to the at-
tack. With no directing head, with no support, outflanked on
the right, and borne down by weight of numbers in their front,
Johnson's two brigades gave way.

It has been charged that they were surprised, but that is a
slander on those brave men. True, some of the artillery horses
were away to water, but the guns were there ready for action.
It is also true that some of the men were preparing breakfast,
but a soldier's breafast at such a time is not of such an elabo-
rate character as to incapacitate him for instant service. The
truth is that the pickets were well out, and the men had been
standing in line from five o'clock till daylight. The trouble was
not with the men in front, but with the men who left them there
without the shadow of a chance to do themselves justice. John-
son's third brigade being so far away could give no aid till their
comrades were routed, and it in turn was swept away, the whole
division being so completely broken up and dispersed in thirty
minutes as to put it out of the fight for the rest of the day.

Next to Johnson came our brigade (Post's) of Davis' division.
A change of front became at once necessary, and we formed line
behind a rail fence about half a mile to the rear, and at right
angles to our former position. On our left was a wide gap
between us and the rest of our division. On our right were the
rebels pursuing Johnson's broken columns. Thus isolated we
had no show to win; but by a vigorous resistance we could gain
time, and time was all important for the remainder of the army.
Never shall we forget with what perfect line and swinging step
the enemy advanced across the field in our front, and never shall
we cease to admire the soldierly bearing and perfect discipline
of that splendid body of men. We frankly recognize the gal-
lantry of the southern soldier; and when next we go to war, if
go we must, may it be our fortune to march with, and not against
them.

Against those in front we could have held, and did hold, our
position; but finally threatened on both flanks by overlapping
forces, no other course than surrenderor retreat was left us. We
chose the latter. The experience of our brigade was the ex-

72 SECOND REUNION OF THE

perience, more or less prolonged, of Davis', Sheridan's and
Negley's divisions. The splendid fight made by Davis against
overwhelming odds enabled Sheridan to prepare for the coming
storm. Sheridan was one of the few men who could gather in-
spiration from disaster, and pluck victory from defeat.

We did not know it at the time, but when Davis' shattered
columns rallied and made so brave a stand at the hospital, it
was of inestimable service to Sheridan. It greatly relieved his
sorely pressed regiments, and allowed him to take a new posi-
tion from which he could continue the fight. Though forced
back at last, it is not too much to say that his skillful mancevre-
ing and prolonged resistance, saved the day.

The rebels advanced by a continuous right wheel, using
their center as a pivot, their line to the right taking up the fight
and pressing us in front as their left advanced on our flank and
rear. By ten o'clock one-half of our army had been driven from
its original position, and the whole right wing was doubled back
on the center. It was not until we reached the Nashville pike,
three hours after the fight began that help came to us from the
left.

As at Perryville, McCook had failed to call upon Buell for
help till it was too late; so here it was nine o'clock before he
acquainted Rosecrans of the extent of his disaster. The reced-
ing sounds of the battle had, however, given ominous warnings.
Rosecrans' contemplated attack upon the rebel right was aban-
doned. The troops that were to make it were recalled from
across the river, and everything put in motion to save the army.
It was these troops that we met at last, and behind them we
reformed our broken ranks. The rebels, who had been march-
ing and fighting since early morning, were, with their tired and
decimated ranks, in no condition to meet these fresh opponents,
and were, in turn, broken and driven back. One or two more
efforts on their part closed the fighting on this part of the field;
but all day the battle raged on the center and left with unabated
fury, their every attack being repulsed.

In all the fighting of this terrible day our lines were never
once broken in front; and had our flank been properly protected,
there is little reason to doubt but what we could have held our
position until Rosecrans had carried out his plans on the left.
There is something pathetic in the position of the rank and file

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 73

who know nothing of a battle but the little they see around them,
who obey with the same alacrity and fidelity the orders of an in-
competent as of a skillful commander, who march to their fate,
sometimes a useless sacrifice, without questioning :

"Their's not to question why ;
Their'sbut to do and die."

Fame, glory and honors are not for them, but for those who
command. For pure, unalloyed patriotism commend me to the
volunteer who served in the ranks.

To add further to the misfortunes of the day, the rebel cav-
alry had gotten in between us and Nashville and burned our
wagons and supplies. With little or nothing to eat, with twenty-
eight guns lost, with the army barely saved from total defeat,
with only ammunition enough left to repel an attack, Rosecrans,
in a council of war held that night, decided to fight it out on that
field; and to his genius and courage was our final triumph due.
The Seventy-fourth had lost seventy-nine men, or one-fifth of its
force present; and this was about the proportion of loss for the
whole army in this first day's engagement. When the day is
over; when the rush and roar of battle is succeeded by the solemn
stillness of the night; when the excitement is calmed and the
cheers have died away; when we are left to think of our comrades
gone, and our broken ranks; then there comes to every heart a
feeling of infinite sadness. It was with such thoughts and such
feelings that we watched the old year out, and at last fell asleep.

With the first dawn of New Year's day Bragg felt our posi-
tion, and was surprised to find us still holding the field in force.
By all the rules of well regulated war we should have withdrawn
during the night. To remain after we were fairly whipped was
taking a mean advantage of an enemy, and Rosecrans was guilty
of this marked discourtesy. As the day wore away without a
renewal of the attack, Rosecrans again returned to his original
plan of battle. VanCleve's division was sent across the river,
and took up a position threatening the enemy's right, and from
which he could enfilade their center. This movement, made
late in the day, was not discovered till the next morning.

The enemy saw at once that this position must be taken, or
their whole line drawn back. To Breckenridge was assigned the
task of its capture; and at four p. m., with fi^e thousand men,
he charged across the intervening field, routed VanCleve's two

74 SECOND REUNION OF THE

brigades and drove ,them in great disorder across the river.
Just below the ford, on a commanding hill, Rosecrans had mas-
sed fifty-eight guns. These guns plowed the rebel ranks. Por-
tions of Palmer's and Negley's divisions took up the fight ; and
our division was ordered over from the extreme right. We made
the intervening two miles on the double quick, and m)^ legs yet
ache from the effort. Breckenridge had not expected such a
reception. His men broke and ran, and in an hour the fight
was over. One half of the assaulting column was left on the
field ; and had night not overtaken us, there is little doubt but
what we could have pushed on into Murfreesboro, so great was
their demoralization. All that night and the next day the two
armies confronted each other and on the succeeding night)
January 3d, the enemy withdrew. Thus closed one of the most
prolonged, sanguinary and hotly contested battles of the war;
and thus closed our first campaign.

Stone River is entitled to rank as one of the great battles in
history, whether considered in the importance of the results
achieved, the numbers engaged, or the great proportion of killed
and wounded. Our victory, for so it was proclaimed, came at
a most opportune moment and was hailed with delight by the
loyal millions at home. It was the one ray of sunshine in our
national firmament during all that gloomy winter. Grant had
failed in his attempt on Vicksburg, and the army of the Potomac
had marched to useless slaughter on the heights of Fredericks-
burg. Many of the Northern states had elected legislatures hos-
tile to our cause. Even here in Illinois, Gov. Yates was obliged
to resort to the extra constitutional means of proroguing a legisla-
ture intent upon mischief. The emancipation proclamation had
just gone into effect, and strange as it now appears, was hardly
sustained by public opinion. If to our other calamities had been
added a defeat at Stone river, the consequences would have been
disastrous and far reaching. Lincoln well said, that if Rosecrans
had done nothing else, his victory at that time would have for-
ever entitled him to the gratitude of his country.

Aside from its inspiring effects upon the country at large, it
gave to us Middle Tennessee, and placed us well on our way to
Chattanooga, the objective point of the campaign.

In reading the history of the civil war we are struck with
the courage and physical endurance of the American soldier.

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 75

One quarter (22,000) of all the men who marched to Stone River
were left on the field of battle. This loss was divided nearly
equally between the two armies. At Chickamauga the proportion
was still greater; and yet those who were left were unconquer-
ed and full of fight. These were volunteers, whose lives had
previously been lives of peace. At Sedan, Napoleon surrender-
ed an army of 135,000 after a loss of only 15,000; while at Metz
Bazaine surrendered a still larger force, after a loss atGravelotte
of less than one-seventh, and yet these were men whose busi-
ness in life was war. Comrades, the army has never yet been
mustered that could compel the surrender of 135,000 men such
as marched with Rosecrans and Thomas to the historic fields of
Stone River and Chickamauga. We feel a just pride in our record
as citizen soldiers, and would, by these recurring reunions, keep
green the memory of those dajs. Nearly a quarter of a century
has passed since then. Many have gone to their reward, while
all of us are hastening to the end. The ranks of that Grand
Army of the Union are becoming thinned, but its work remains,
and a united nation will ever hold it in grateful remembrance.

After an interval of music, Judge Robert B. Archibald, of
Jacksonville, Fla., was called upon for some remarks upon "Re-
sults of the War as affecting the South." In response, Comrade
Archibald said:

Comrades, Ladies and Gentlemen: Anyone coming, as I have,
a distance of twelve or fiifteen hundred miles, from the Land of
Flowers to the Forest City, upon considering the fact that he had
traversed but about one-third of the extent of our whole country,
will undoubtedly be deeply impressed, as I was myself, with the
vastness of the land we live in and call our own. And yet in
the whole distance from Florida to Lake Michigan nowhere could
we see along the route a natural division where a boundary line
could be properly established to divide the different sections of
the country so as to form two separate nations. What we term
the North and South appeared formed and adapted for one vast,
grand empire, "one and inseparable," the home of prosperous,
happy millions of people, the source of hope and inspiration of
the world. Viewed in this light we come to the realization of
the fact that in the great four years' war of the rebellion our gal-
lant soldiers did not endure all the hardship and privations of
the march, the camp, and the battle-field, great as they were, in

76 SECOND REUNION OF THE

vain; and it may with truth be added that the accomplishment
of anything less than the grand results actually achieved would
have been wholly inadequate to the great sacrifices made.

As I have said, all the States of the Union seem adapted to
the formation of one vast country. No part could be severed
without impairing the symmetry of the whole. The North needs
the South and the South the North, and the East and the West
are mutually dependent upon each other. As for the South, the
people there need the cool, bracing air of the North, where they
can come in the summer to get fresh vigor and inspiration. We
need your mountain and your seaside resorts, your Saratogas,
your Long Branches and your "Forest Citys. " We also need
the thousands of Northern visitors and tourists who annually
make their pilgrimages into our sunny land in winter, to say
nothing of our need of the thousands of dollars they leave there
when they come to visit us. On your part, you need the "Sun-
ny South," with its beautiful climate and its balmy air, where
you can escape the icy breath of winter and bask in the sunshine
under Southern skies. Floridians awlays boast, and justly so,
of the climate of Florida; so much so, in fact, that curious
stories are sometimes told of us. One of these indicates that our
Florida climate is so salubrious that it has even acquired some-
thing like a marketable value. For instance, it is said that a
party, upon settling his bill at a hotel on the St. Johns river,
noticed that one item was for "sundries" $25.00. Not being
quite satisfied, he called for an explanation. About $15.00 was
duly accounted for, but no explanation could be given for the
balance. "O, well," said the landlord, "I suppose the other
ten dollars is for "climate." With that explanation the gentle-
man said he supposed he must be contented, but said it remind-
ed him of the announcement put up in a hotel out west which
read thus: "Terms three dollars and a half a day, board and
lodging extra."

In all the reunions of the old soldiers of the Union, it must
be a source of great satisfaction to them to feel that while their
victorious columns marched triumphantly through the South,
and that the close of the war found them the victors, their mis-
sion was not one of conquest, of subjugation and oppression.
We went forth to preserve and not to destroy, and while suffer-
ing was necessarily entailed upon the people we overcame, it

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 77

was only such as was unavoidably incident to a long and desper-
ate war. Never perhaps in all history was a conquered people
treated with greater magnanimity, taking all the circumstances
into consideration, than the people of theSouth by the loyal North ;
and to-day the states which seceded are placed upon an equal
footing with their sister states which remained true to the Union;
and the people of those states enjoy all the advantages of citizen-
ship enjoyed by the people of any part of our country. The
result is everywhere visible all over the South, in its flourishing
towns and prosperous cities. Capital has flowed in from all di-
rections, and people from all quarters of the globe have come to
make their homes among us. And thus "the waste places "are
being made "to blossom as the rose." Scarcely any traces re-
main in all the South to show that a conquering army ever
marched "from Atlanta to the sea," or in fact that any army ever
crossed its borders, except that the sound of the lash and the
clanking of chains are forever banished from the land, and the
sunlight of liberty has warmed into new life four millions of
people that were in bondage. And I think I may presume to
say, from what I know of the sentiments of southern people, that
whatever regrets they may have had at the failure of the "lost
cause, "there is little regret now that slavery is forever abolished,
and that the Union was preserved. While it is unfortunately
true that some of the old bitter feeling still remains in the breasts
of many of the Southern people, it is gradually passing away,
and I am satisfied that if they had only a full, realizing sense of
the kindly, generous feeling entertained for them by the North
and West, and especially by the "boys in blue," the last vestige
of sectional bitterness would utterly disappear. And I predict
that the day is not far distant when the "stars and stripes" will
be as much respected floating over the island city of Key West,
overPensacola, New Orleans and Atlanta, as over the loyal cities
of the North, and should the emergency ever arise in our day
which should require your presence again in the field in defense
of the old flag, a million willing hands and strong arms of the
"boys in gray" would come to your aid and vie with you in bear-
ing it on to victory, and in adding new lustre to the arms of
our country.

Possibly, comrades, I may be a little too fast in promising
so much for the old Confederates. On further reflection I think

78 SECOND REUNION OF THE

I am, for from the sentiments I have heard many of them express,
I think it is the intention of everyone of them, in case of another
war, to go as Quartermaster, Commissary, or Sutler, and I fear
there may be trouble between us, because those are the very
positions we want for ourselves.

After another rousing chorus, the President announced the
sentiment: "The work of woman on the lines of the reserve was
an essential factor in the success of the Federal army." This
was responded to by Rev. G. R. Vanhorne, of battery B, (Tay-
lor's) 1st Illinois artillery, who said:

Comrades : — The soldiers of this Republic owe a lasting debt
of gratitude to the loyal women of this country. Their devotion
to the soldier in the camp and in the field, assured his success.
And if the history of the war for the union could be painted in a
picture so that the eye could see the relation that one part bears
to the other, all through that picture you would see the bright
outlines of woman's help, woman's influence, woman's sympathy
woman's devotion, woman's work, 'woman's sacrifice, woman's
tears, woman's prayers, and woman's love. The length, charac-
ter and results of the war were all modified by the part the loy-
al women of the north took in that conflict. Eternity alone will
reveal how much the army was strengthened, the sick cheered,
the feeble encouraged, the dying comforted by these godly wom-
en. Who yet has been able to express how much the govern-
ment was relieved in matters of finance, sanitary measures, and
commissary supplies, by this undivided army of loyal women of
the nation? Who ever has been able to weigh the influence the
loyal sentiment of the women had to crush out, or conceal the
disloyal sentiment that would otherwise have made itself hurtful
and obnoxious in society? They helped by all possible means
to "keep up the enthusiasm, or to rebuke the lukewarmness, or
check the despondency and apathy which at times settled over
the people. Men were ashamed to doubt when women trusted,
or to murmur when they submitted, or to do little when they did
so much."

Allow me to particularize a little, comrades. We remember
the valuable services that the sanitary commission tendered our
boys during the dark days of the war. And most of this sanit-
ary work, at least at home, was conducted by the women. They
were presidents, secretaries, treasurers and workers.

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 79

The Northwestern Sanitary Commission raised in money and
supplies over $1,000 000. The New England Women's Auxiliary
Association raised $1,515,000 in money and supplies. The Wom-
en's Central Association of Relief, with its headuarters at Coop-
er Union, N. Y., distributed nearly 300,000 shirts, besides an in-
numberable amount of other articles and money. The Pittsburg
Sanitary Fair raised $330,490, and during this time the Christian
Commission raised the sum of $59,000. The Buffalo Branch of
the Sanitary Commission sent 3,000 packages to Louisville, and
620 more to New York. They cut and provided material at their
rooms for over 20,000 suits, and other articles for the army am-
ounting to over 200,000 pieces. Little children, mostly girls un-
der twelve years of age, contributed over $12,000. Not a single
woman that managed this great work received a penny for her
position as an officer, except the porter who had charge of the
rooms.

At the "Soldier's Rest," in Chicago, hundreds, and some-
times thousands of our comrades were supplied with warm meals,
and with lodgings for the sick, and all by the loyal women of
Chicago. At the two large refreshment saloons in Philadel-
phia they cared for 22, 000 sick soldiers. They expended $170,000
aside from their supplies, and gave 1,300,000 meals to the boys
in blue. At all hours of the day or night, in sunshine or storm,
all the years through, the women of this country raised over
$15,000,000 in carrying forward this great work of aiding the
soldiers in the field, in camp, or in the hospital.

How much of a burden this took off the government. The
government could not have done it as the women did it. They
did it well. And to-day we call upon the women of our count-
ry to share with us the victory they helped achieve, and every
one of these gallant men who wore the blue will rise up and
called them blessed.

This concluded the formal program, though impromptu and
very interesting speeches, in answer to calls by the comrades,
were made by Major Butcher, of Oregon, and Col. Clark E.
Carr, of Galesburg, who, during the war, was on Gov. Richard
Yates' staff. He paid a deserved and fitting tribute to the mem-
ory of Illinois' old war Governor. The meeting then dispersed
until the next reunion, all having expressed themselves as high-
ly pleased with the gathering.

80 SECOND REUNION OF THE

Among the incidental and pleasant events of the evening
was the presentation of button-hole bouquets, which were dis-
tributed among those present with the request, "Will the boys
in blue of the Seventy-fourth wear these and oblige the giver,
Clara U. Hart." On a card attached to the basket was, "In
memoriam W. H. Urquhart, Company A, Seventy-fourth regi-
ment Illinois volunteers," killed at Stone River.

Proceedings Third Reunion

September 4th, 1555, PocKford, Illinois

PRESENT 120.

BUSINESS MEETING.

A business meeting of the Society of the Seventy-fourth Il-
linois, was held at Grand Army Hall, and was called to order by
the President at 10:30 a. m. The minutes of the meeting of the
year previous were read and approved.

Comrade Hawthorne stated that he was authorized by the
members of Co. G and the citizens of Oregon, to extend an in-
vitation to the members of the Seventy-fourth to hold the next
reunion at Oregon. Upon motion the invitation was unanimous-
ly accepted, and the time fixed for September 4, 1886.

The Society then proceeded to the election of officers for the
ensuing year, and the following were declared elected:

JOSEPH F. HAWTHORNE, President.

VICE-PRESIDENTS.

T. J. L. Remington Company A

I. S. Sumner " B

C. H. C. Dagwell " C

J. H.Douglas " D

E. Cosper " E

L. J. Fuller " F

Daniel Farrill " G

Oscar Franklin " H

W. C. Bokhof " I

A. M. Potter " K

E. F. DUTCHER, Secretary.

JOHN MATMILLER, Treasurer.

82 THIRD REUNION OF THE

Upon motion, it was decided to publish a complete roster
of the regiment, with a short history of each of its members.

The following committee on publication was appointed by
the Chair.

H. P. Holland.

John H. Sherratt.

C. M. Brazee.

John Beatson.

M. S. Parmele.

A committee, consisting of Robert Simpson, H. P. Holland,
and John H. Sherratt, was appointed to report at the next meet-
ing upon the proper disposition of the regimental flags and ban-
ner.

Upon further motion C. M. Brazee was requested to prepare
for the next meeting a paper on the Pioneer Corps of the Army
of the Cumberland; and comrades Robert Simpson and John
Beatson were appointed to prepare articles, the first on the siege
of Chattanooga and battle of Mission Ridge, the latter on the
Knoxville campaign.

The treasurer then made his report. The report was, upon
motion, approved, and the Society adjourned.

JOHN H. SHERRATT, Secretary.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

Upon adjournment of the business meeting at G. A. R. Hall,
the members of the regiment gathered at the Fair Grounds, where
a picnic dinner was enjoyed with their families and friends.

At 2:00 p. m. the meeting was called to order by Robert
Simpson, of Co. C, who stated that the committee of arrange-
ments had requested Hosmer P. Holland, the President of the
Society, to make some remarks upon the death of General Grant.
Mr. Holland then spoke as follows:

Comrades: Since our last meeting an event has occurred
which can be said fairly to define the end of an epoch in our his-
tory— the period of war — and the beginning of a new era — of re-
conciliation and peace. I refer to the recent death of General
Grant. To a people -so long suffering from the slowly healing
wounds of civil conflict, so many years torn by the passions of
fraternal discord, the death of our great captain has been of no
less service than his illustrious life; for in the manner and cir

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 83

cumstances of his passing away there was everything to eradicate
the blind resentments of the partisan, and to destroy any linger-
ing seeds of revenge in the hearts of men who could still be sus-
pected of entertaining sectional hatred. To the dying soldier,
walking for so many weeks in "the Valley of the Shadow," came
again at the last, and with a new meaning, the blessed evangel de-
livered by the Angels of the Nativity, now more than 1800 years
ago, to simple shepherds keeping their lonely vigils on the plains
ofjudea, "On earth peace, goodwill toward men." It is not
for us — it may be for our children or their children — to fix Grant's
place in the rank's of the world's great generals. We can say,
however, that he will not be among the group of conquerors
where stand Alexander, Caesar and Napoleon; we can believe
that it will be in a glorious company of peacemakers — with Cin-
cinnatus, Charlemagne and Washington. To the survivors of
the Seventy-fourth it must always be a subject of pride that their
regiment was engaged in that most brilliant campaign of the war
which culminated in the actions of Lookout Mountain and Mis-
sion Ridge, the latter, as Gen. Halleck said, "the most gallant
feat of arms for an hundred years," and the only campaign in
which together took part the four Federal generals who deserv-
edly won the highest reputations, namely, Grant, Thomas, Sher.
man and Sheridan. The results of this campaign settled many
questions, and chief among them who should be found to cope
with Lee in Virginia. To command the Army of the Potomac
had been, for the majority of our generals who had undertaken
the task, to dig the graves of their military reputations, and a
splendid army had been constantly defeated, or at least checked,
because no officer had been able to meet, with success, the strat-
egy of the ablest Confederate general. And so it came to pass
that, out of the smoke and turmoil of that historic charge, where
20,000 veterans of the Army of the Cumberland, advancing in four
lines, deploying as they moved forward, assaulted three miles of
the rugged hillside on that bright November day twenty-two
years ago, there emerged the great commander, to whose lot it
fell, less than eighteen months after, to receive the surrender of
the Army of Northern Virginia and bring the war to its close.
It is to be observed that in command of the Army of the Poto-
mac, as in every other field of action, General Grant had no part
in the many intrigues, of which Washington was the center,

84

whose objects were to make or unmake the reputations of gener-
als, military or political. A man more constant to his purpose,
more self-reliant, more inflexible in resolution, we cannot find in
history. Silent as the Prince of Orange, steadfast as the Iron
Duke, he pushed his battallions forward, giving no heed to the
superficial criticisms of the all-wise newspaper correspondents,
who infested the rear of his armies like so many flies hanging
upon the flanks of a noble horse. A gentleman who was an offi-
cer in a Vermont regiment of the Army of the Potomac, refer-
ring to the time when Grant assumed direction of the operations
against Lee, relates that in his first engagement with Confederate
troops, our forces were checked and very severely handled, his
own regiment especially sustaining an exceptionally heavy loss;
and when night brought an end to the battle, the Federal army
was so worsted, that all believed a retreat would be ordered at
once. Instead of that, dawn of the following day brought the
direction for an immediate advance; and then, as the narrator
says, " The Army of the Potomac felt that it had at last found a
master."

An element of General Grant's success was his certainty of
judgment in selecting subordinates. A notable example of this
was his assignment of Sheridan to the command of that portion
of the Federal forces operating in the valley of Virginia, where,
hitherto, the Confederate army had met with almost uninterrupt-
ed success. From the day Sheridan assumed direction of affairs
along the Shenandoah all this was changed, and the movements
and engagements of his troops, acting in conformity to a well
defined plan, were an essential element in the successful issue
of direct operations by the main army under Grant.

The march of Sherman's army through Georgia, and the
campaign of Thomas against Hood, resulting in the dispersion
of the Confederate forces, are further examples of Grant's
sagacious choice of lieutenants. An admirable trait of Grant
was the extreme simplicity of his character and his freedom from
egotism. Unusually frank and open in his intercourse, he so
fully appreciated the gravity of his responsibilities, that silence,
like a shield, protected him in hiding his plans from the peering
eyes of ubiquitous correspondents, with whom he was no favor-
ite, and to whom, less than most men, he owed reputation. No
man will claim for General Gr^nt great mental gifts or excep-

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 85

tional acquirements. He was not even a business man, as that
term is now used. He had not the art of making money; and
any day you can pass upon our streets half a dozen men with
narrow foreheads and small eyes burning with the lust of gain,
any one of whom accumulates in a month more of this world's
riches than such a man as Grant could gather in a year. To each
his place: to this one, "the gold that gilds the straightened
forehead of the fool," to our General, the well earned fame of
bringing peace to the fatherland. It was a thought of Grant's,
and one that has crossed many other minds, that, great as may
be the evil of war, nothing could so cement our restored Union
as that we should be engaged in hostilities with some foreign
power. In that day the veterans of either army would stand
shoulder to shoulder, and one to the other might say, as of old
spoke Sir Simon of the Lee to good Lord James, of Douglas,

" But if in battle front, comrade,
"Tis ours once more to ride ;
Nor force of man nor craft of fiend
Shall cleve me from thy side."

In his last days, suffering as he did, knowing that his hours
were numbered, the silent soldier's thought was not of war and
fame, but of wife and children. Napoleon, at St. Helena, with
his dying breath, muttered, "The head of the army." To Stone-
wall Jackson, wounded at Chancellorsville, passing away in the
field hospital, came no thought of the second day's battle, whose
guns were sounding in his ears, but closing his tired eyes he
simply said, "Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade
of the trees. " One by one the great figures of the war are crossing
through the shadow, over the river and into the light beyond.
And, as they pass away, let us bury in their hallowed graves not
only the dust which confined their immortal spirits, but all the
animosities engendered in the years of conflict. These men
knew what war meant; that it was a bloody trade, and could not
too soon come to an end. They were too magnanimous to have
any of that blind rage which has been so aptly described as "the
fury of the non-combatant." To the dead on either side our
charity will say, "God give you rest; all is well with the father-
land."

In conclusion, permit me, as a thing appropriate to the oc-
casion, to read you these lines, which appeared in a New York

86 THIRD REUNION OF THE

illustrated paper in connection with a notice of the visit of Gen.
Buckner to Grant at Mount MaGregor:

For those who fought the war is done;

For them life's evening sky
Grows tender o'er a setting sun

Where fires of anger die.
Toward the mountains of the West

They look with peaceful sight ;
The storm they braved has sunk to rest

Into forgetful night.

From foe to friend — from foe to friend!

O consecrated years,
How have ye worked toward this end

Through myriad doubts and fears!
The baud that laid the sword aside

Now seeks the conqueror's hand —
Friends? They are sharers in one pride,

And lovers of one land.

O meaner folk, of narrower souls,

Heirs of ignoble thought,
Stir not the camp-fires blackened coals

Blood-drenched by those who fought;
Lest out of heaven a fire shall yet

Bear God's own vengeance forth
On those who once again would set

Discord 'twixt South and North.

The President then read the following letter from Sergeant
Edward Black, of Co. A, and stated that in the absence of Mr.
Black, Captain John H. Sherratt would read what Mr. Black
had prepared for the occasion.

JESUP, Iowa, August 27th, 1885.

Comrades of the Seventy-fourth: By request of your committee
I contribute a sketch of the campaign which resulted in the oc-
cupation of Chattanooga in the summer and fall of 1863. At
your last reunion comrade Sherratt contributed an excellent ar-
ticle on our first campaign from Louisville, Ky., to Murfrees-
boro, Tenn. That the thread of history may not be broken, I
commence this sketch where he leaves off, viz : Battlefield of
Stone River. The subject is too vast for my poor pen; and well
knowing the imperfections of this sketch, I crave your leniency,
and hope that among so many of you who are better fitted to do
this than myself, there may be at least one to go over the same
ground and give us a history of this campaign worth)' of the
Seventy-fourth regiment. With best wishes for a pleasant re-
union, I am, Your comrade, E. BLACK.

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 87

TULLAHOMA AND CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN.

BY EDWARD BLACK.

The morning of January 4th, 1863, found us upon the his-
toric field of Stone River, amid the wreck and desolation of that
mighty struggle. On every side were evidences of the terrible
conflict. Fences, timber and buildings were battered and torn,
as though a destructive tornado had passed over the field; broken
wagons, caissons and ambulances strewed the roads and fields;
thousands of muskets and accoutrements lay scattered about,
thrown down by those who were killed or wounded. Hundreds
of horses lay dead, reminding us that the demon war was not
satisfied even with human blood. Of our comrades who march-
ed with us out of our camps at Nashville but one week ago,
1,533 lay cold in death, while upwards of 7,000 of our fellows
were writhing with their wounds in the temporary hospitals, or
uncared for upon the field, At least an equal number of the en-
emy were also killed or wounded. We were here brought face to
face with the terrible realities of war, and I think it may be safely
said that to none was the picture a pleasant one. Youthful and
enthusiastic soldiers that we were we had enough of the glory of
war, and had the contest been ended so that we might have re-
turned to our homes honorably, would have embraced the op-
portunity gladly. We had now been soldiers for a matter of four
months, but it is doubtful if we had up to this time realized the
full import of soldiering, or what might be required of us.

That beautiful Sabbath day was devoted to burying the dead
and caring for the wounded, friend and foe alike, thus obliter-
ating, as far as might be, the scars of battle. Late the same
evening our command was marched across the river, and moved
two miles south of Murfreesboro into what proved to be quite a
permanent camp. Here we remained until April, 1863.

General order No, 168 of the war department, dated Octo-
ber 24th, 1862, had erected into the Department of the Cumber-
land all that portion of the Tennessee lying east of the Tennes-
see river, and such portions of Alabama and Georgia as might
be thereafter occupied by the United States' forces. The troops,
then nearly one year under Gen. Buell and called the Army of
the Ohio, were by the same order designated as the Fourteenth
army corps, and Gen. Rosecrans assigned to the command.

88 THIRD REUNION OF THE

Thus the army had, until after the battle of Stone River, been
known as the Fourteenth army corps, divided and commanded as
follows: center, Gen. Geo. H. Thomas; right wing, Gen. Aleck
McCook; left wing, Gen. Crittenden. On the 9th of January
there was a reorganization by which the center, under Gen.
Thomas, was designated as the Fourteenth corps, while the right
and left wings were respectively numbered the Twentieth and
Twenty-first corps, under Generals McCook and Crittenden.
This did not affect us in any way, nor change our officers. Thus
Gen. McCook commanded our corps, the Twentieth; Gen. Davis
our division, the First; and Col. Post our brigade, also the First.
The Fffty-ninth and Seventy-fifth Illinois, and Twenty-second In-
diana regiments, with the Fifth Wisconsin battery, were our com-
panions, and with the Seventy-fourth formed the First brigade of
Jeff. C. Davis' division.

After becoming settled in camp, our time, during January,
was occupied with the regular routine of camp duties, such as
picket, camp guard, an occasional trip outside the lines to escort
forage trains, etc. The camp proved to be poorly chosen, as it
was quite unhealthy, many being sent away sick to hospitals,
while several deaths occurred in the regiment.

On or about February 1st, the division was ordered out in
pursuit of Confederate raiders, in the vicinity of Eagleville or
Triune. While on the move the rain fell in torrents, and few
who were present will forget our night march in a furious rain
storm from Eagleville to Triune. Gen. Steadman had moved
down from Nashville to Triune on the same errand which we
were upon. Unknown to us he had pickets within three miles
of Eagleville. Running into them about 10 o'clock p. m., we
supposed they were rebels, while they had the same opinion of
ourselves. Skirmishers were thrown out, and they were steadily
pressed back until near Triune where Gen. Steadman's entire
command had been called out, and were awaiting us in battle line.
Gen. Davis accidentally discovered who they were, and was there-
by enabled to make himself known when mutual explanations
followed, and we were allowed to move into camp just at day-
light.

To many this was the most uncomfortable night spent in
the army. Thoroughly soaked with the rain of the day and night
previous, sleepy, tired, cross, allowed to move but a few steps at

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 89

a time, was it any wonder that the Twenty-second boys rallied
Gen. Davis about the cow they said he had stolen from a widow
in Missouri. He was asked if she had picked up a gravel in her
foot, causing her to go lame, thus retarding the march. . It was
suggested to the general that he had better milk her, to have her
shod, put in an ambulance, send her home, make soup of her, etc. ,
all of which advice, offered gratis to the general as he passed and
repassed us in the pitchy darkness, was treated with the silent
contempt which it deserved. After remaining a few days at
Triune, the division moved over to Franklin. Here we remain-
ed until February 12th. One of the incidents which occurred
here was the search made by the provost guards resulting in the
discovery of a lot of stolen crockery ware in the beds of some of
the Seventy-fourth officers. These were a tough lot of scamps,
and the more respectable members of the regiment were just a
little careful about associating with them thereafter. Another in~
cident, not quite so funny for those who took a leading part in
it at least, was the whipping of five cavalrymen who had commit-
ted some depredations that Gen. Davis did not approve of. The
division was paraded on the field just south of the old cotton gin,
which all will remember who were afterwards present at the
battle of Franklin. The culprits were stripped of their uniforms,
tied behind a wagon and the lash well laid on. Afterward they
were drummed out of camp, with orders not to be caught inside
our lines again.

About Feburary 15th we arrived back at the old camp
south of Murfreesboro. In April we moved to a more healthy
location near town. As the weather became fine, company and
battallion drill relieved daily the monotony of camp life. It was
also considered the proper thing for the health of the men to give
them frequent and abundant exercise upon the fortifications then
being erected. During May a system of picket, or outpost by
regiments or brigades, was inaugurated, and, on our first trip
out, we were stationed at Stone River Bridge, on the Shelby-
ville Pike, the Seventy-fourth being alone. After being out
several days our sutler, who had been left in camp, pitying our
lonely condition, brought out a wagon load of delicacies which
he at once proceeded to sell at town prices. However, there be-
ing no competition, and the goods going off freely, it was decided
to advance the price of certain articles. This plan was not re-

90 THIRD REUNION OF THE

ceived with favor by his patrons, and soon murmurs of dissatis-
faction were heard which grew louder and louder, until the afore-
said patrons became a howling, infuriated mob, thirsting for the
sutler's goods, if not for his blood. Disregarding all rights of
property, they tore the cover and wheels from the wagon, making
themselves masters of the outfit in a moment, and then distrib-
uted the goods to suit themselves. Guards were called and
order soon restored, but the entire stock had been disposed of.
Our next outpost duty was with the entire brigade at Butler's
Hill, five miles south of town. While here, you will remember
we had the pleasure of wishing Mr. Vallandigham, of Ohio,
adieu, as he took his departure for the Confederacy.

On June 24th, the entire army commenced the forward
movement on the rebel stronghold at Tullahoma, The twen-
tieth army corps, Gen. McCook's, having the right, Sheridan's
division, with a mounted force, moving directly south towards
Shelbyville, Davis' and Johnson's divisions on his left by way
of Millersburg and Liberty Gap, Gen. Thomas, with the four-
teenth corps, taking the road through Hoover's Gap, Beech
Grove and Manchester, while Crittenden's corps, the Twenty-
first, made a wide detour to the left, by way of McMinnville and
eventually to Hillsboro, Pelham and Tracy City. Let me here
say that a relentless fate in the shape of rain seemed to pursue
the Army of the Cumberland whenever a move was attempted.
It was so in this case, and before we had marched an hour the
rain came pouring down. A short distance below Millersburg
the enemy's outposts were met, and skirmishing went on briskly
until late in the evening. During the 25th, Gen. Johnson, who
had charge of operations, (Gen. Davis being sick) was satisfied
to hold what he had gained. I suppose it was part of the plan
to give the mounted force, which had accompanied Gen. Sher-
idan, an opportunity to swing upon their rear. It seems, how-
ever, that they were unable to do this, as on the morning of the
26th the divisions of Davis and Johnson moved forward. About
noon the rebel position was developed, and shortly after was at-
tacked by Johnson's division, who found the enemy much strong-
er than expected. Davis' division was ordered up, when the
rebels were handsomely driven. Meantime Sheridan had work-
ed his way well down to Shelbyville, upon our right, while
Wilder's mounted brigade had occupied Hoover's Gap, upon

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 91

our left, defeating a superior rebel force in a strong position,
thus opening the way for Gen. Thomas to move forward to
Beech Grove and Manchester. The Union loss was forty killed
and one hundred and fifty wounded. These gaps were the key
to the Confederate position at Tullahoma, and their capture by
Gen. Rosecrans permitted him to completely flank that position
by way of Manchester and Winchester, thus compelling Bragg
to retreat over the Cumberland mountains, or be attacked in
flank and rear. Bragg evacuated on July 1st, and was closely
pursued by Thomas from Manchester, and by McCook from the
vicinity of Tullahoma. By a great exertion Bragg was able to
escape with his baggage and reserve artillery across Elk river,
near Estelle Springs. During this time Crittenden was not idle,
having moved down from McMinnville to Hillsboro, thus com-
ing withing supporting distance of Gen. Thomas. He was sent
forward with all haste to take possession of the road leading from
Decherd to Tracy City. In this he was successful, and this
forced the enemy to take the roads leading directly over the
mountain, instead of the short route by way of Tracy City and
Sequatchie Valley to Chattanooga. McCook was able to cross
the Elk at Rock Creek by the 2nd, and on July 4th the entire
army was able to stand beneath the shadow of the Cumberland
mountains. Thus we see that in but little over a week the Army
of the Cumberland had made a permanent advance of, say, sixty
miles, forcing an enemy of nearly or quite equal numbers out of
a chosen and carefully fortified position, compelling him to re-
treat over the mountains in such haste that he was unable to de-
stroy the railroad, more than to burn the bridges. Brilliant as
was this victory, though a comparatively bloodless one, it cuts
but little figure in history, being overshadowed by the great and
costly victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, occurring at the
same time.

We have now followed the army down to the mountains,
and will go back to Liberty Gap where we left Johnson and
Davis's divisions. On the morning of June 28th, Davis's division
was ordered over to the road leading to Hoover's Gap, and by
that route to follow the command of Gen. Thomas to Manches-
ter. We reached and camped at Beech Grove the same even-
ing, and late on the eve of the 29th, reached Duck river. On
the 30th we were supposed to rest. Few enjoyed their rest, as

92 THIRD REUNION OF THE

we were camped on low, swampy ground. Rain fell in the reg-
ular Tennessee style until our tents were flooded, and the camp
bore a striking resemblance to a musk rat pond. On July 1st,
the Seventy-fourth, with a part of the Thirty-ninth Indiana, was
ordered to escort a supply train back to Murfreesboro, which we
did, reaching Murfreesboro on July 3d. Our route lay through
a district known as the Black Swamp, which the continuous rains
had turned into a bog. Many of the wagons were loaded with
knapsacks and the surplus clothing of the men. All had to be
sacrificed, as it was with the greatest efforts that we were able
to get the empty wagons through the mud. The knapsacks,
containing the clothing and little trinkets and keepsakes of the
men, were thrown into piles and burned. It seemed like sacri-
lege, and I am sure that the men of the Seventy-fourth were
never called upon to do anything that went so much against the
grain. In this knapsack was the bible given by a loving mother
to an only son; or in that one the portraits of the wife and little
ones who had sent a husband and father to fight for home and
country. However, we could indulge in no sentiment over these
things, and all were destroyed. July 4th was duly celebrated at
Murfreesboro. At noon 100 guns boomed their thunderous joy
in honor of the victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, which
was, even at that moment, being entered by the Union forces
under Gen. Grant.

The train being loaded we got an early start on the morning
of the 5th, and reached Shelbyville the same evening. Here was
the end of the turnpike, or macadamized road, and the beginning
of our real troubles with that train. As I write, visions of un-
fathomable mud rise before me. Miles of the road between War-
trace and Estelle Springs had to be corduroyed by laying in
fence rails, and, when they failed, by cutting timber and throw-
ing it in. The labor required seems incredible, and it is still
a wonder how we succeeded in getting through. While at work
on an unusually bad spot, a would-be literary soldier had oc-
casion to make the quotation "ignorance is bliss." An auswer
came promptly (I think from Lieut. A. H. Beattie, ) "Yes,
ignorance of a corduroy road, for instance." This application
just then seemed like an inspiration, and it is yet present when
unpleasant duties are to be performed. Bad language, I regret
to say, was the rule among army teamsters, but on this trip the

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 93

situation was so appalling that they seemed to lose their grip on
cuss words, and spoke even gently and caressingly to the patient
mules, as they urged them to greater efforts. However, we got
through in someway, and on the evening of July 10th, joined our
brigade and division, which had gone into camp near Winchester.
Here we remained about six weeks, very pleasantly located.
While here, blackberries, then ripe, were added to our bill of
fare with beneficial results, as, when we left the place, not
a man of the regiment was sick or unable to march. Our
time at Winchester was profitably spent in battallion and brigade
drill, so that ere we moved from this camp we could boast of be-
ing the most perfect in drill of any organization in the Army of
the Cumberland. For this result thanks are due to that superb
soldier, Gen. Post, our brigade commander. I often think how
very fortunate the men of the Seventy-fourth were in their su-
perior officers. 'Twas our fortune to have placed over us the
greatest and best among the officers which the war produced. I
might mention a long list of illustrious names in this connection,
for all of whom we had, and still have, the greatest respect.
Yet among them all Gen. Post will always hold first place in our
hearts. He took us, rude, ignorant boys, ignorant of everything
military at least, and with kind, patient, although sometimes
strict discipline, he made us soldiers, — men. Others we must
and do respect. Him we love.

Upon his retreat over the mountains, Bragg at once collected
his army near Chattanooga, upon the south side of the Tennessee
river. Thither Gen. Rosecrans determined to follow him, and
wrest from his grasp that strategic point. Early in August the
advance, which had closely pursued Bragg over the mountains,
had the railroad repaired, and supplies were sent forward to
Stevenson, Ala., as rapidly as possible. Orders for an advance
were issued on Aug. 16th, and next day Davis's Division com-
menced the movement over the mountains, All day of the 18th
we toiled getting the trains and artillery up the steepmountain side.
This accomplished we were ready for an early start on the 19th
As earlyas 3:00o'clocka.m.,the bugles sounded, and soonthemen
were on the march, making a distance of a perhaps ten miles by
sunrise. By 8:00o'clock in the morning, we had crossed the Alaba-
ma State line, which was here marked by a slab of stone. As the
troops crossed the line, the martial bands, as well as the voices of

94 THIRD REUNION OF THE

the men, made the welkin ring with the then popular air of
"Down in Alabam." About noon we reached the point where
we were to descend the mountain to the valley of Big Coon Creek.
Here we had to assist the trains down the mountain, but this was
soon accomplished, and we proceeded down the valley, reaching
the Sweet Water Springs (sometimes called Birmingham) at
sunset. The distance we had -marched during the day was esti-
mated at forty-two miles, and was the longest march made in one
day during our period of service. It was, from any information
I have, the longest day's march made by any body of troops
during the war; and when the fact became generally known in
the army, our brigade was christened "Post's Greyhounds."

On the morning of August 20th, the division moved down
to the Crow Creek bridge, near Stephenson, Ala., where they
remained until preparations were made to cross the Tennessee
river.

Johnson's division had moved by way of Salem and Larkin's
Fork to Bellefonte, where they were joined by the cavalry under
Gen. Stanley, which had gone around the mountains byway of
Fayetteville and Huntsville. Sheridan's division was among
the first troops that had crossed the mountain during July or
early in August, and were now at Bridgeport. The Fourteenth
corps, under Gen. Thomas, had moved down the railroad from
Decherd, and were now in the vicinity of Bridgeport. Critten-
den's command moved across by the more easy route from Tracy
City, through the Sequatchie Valley to Jasper, where his troops
now were, except Wagner's and Hazen's brigades of infantry,
and Minty's and Wilder's brigades of mounted men, which had
been sent to a point opposite Chattanooga. Appearing there
they shelled the town vigorously, creating the greatest excite-
ment, even causing Cumberland Gap to be evacuated, and the
troops stationed there to be called to Chattanooga. By the 25th
of August, the entire army, except perhaps the reserves, under
Gen. Gordon Granger, were upon the north bank of the Tennes-
see river, between and including Huntsville and Chattanooga.
On the 27th, two brigades of Gen. Davis's division moved to Cap-
erton's Ferry, below Stevenson, and succeeded in gaining a foot-
hold on the south bank with a small force. At once the work
of laying a pontoon bridge began, and by the 29th it was ready
for the troops to cross. Meantime other bridges had been built

SEVENTY- FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 95

at Bridgeport and Shell Mound. The work of crossing was
pushed with all possible speed, the passage of the entire force
occupying three days. You will remember that our brigade cross-
ed at Caperton's on the 30th, and the following day, with the re-
mainder of the division, moved forward over the Sand Mountain
range, with a view of reaching Valley Head, Ala., thus com-
manding Winston's Gap before the Confederates were aware of
our intention. This we succeeded in doing, reaching Valley
Head on September 4th. This crossing at Caperton's was our
first experience with the army pontoon bridge. This structure
was said to be about 1,500 feet in length. If memory serves me,
the flooring was ten feet in width, resting upon barges eighteen
feet long and, say, four feet wide, placed twelve feet apart (that
is from centers). The swift current of the great river had caused
a bend in the bridge about midway of the stream. Yet the
troops, animals, ammunition, baggage, wagons and artillery of
this portion of the army crossed in safety over that frail structure.
We read in the history of Mexico that Cortez, upon landing,
burned his ships, that his soldiers might fight more bravely,
knowing they had no means of retreat. As we watched that
swaying bridge of boats, as the heavy wagons or guns came jolt-
ing down the banks upon the narrow causeway, we could not but
think that, had it been possible for Cortez to cross over on a pon-
toon bridge, there had been no need of his burning it to develop
the staying qualities of his men. Perhaps Gen. Rosecrans knew
what he was about in taking us over into the enemy's country
with such limited means of retreat.

By the 6th of September the troops had all crossed the first
range of mountains south of the Tennessee, and were in Look-
out Valley facing Lookout Mountain. This is a most formid-
able barrier running from the Tennessee River near Chattanooga,
south-west into Alabama, a distance of perhaps sixty miles. The
height is said to be about two thousand feet, with steep, rocky
and even precipitous sides. Crittenden's Corps was at Wau-
hatchie, about six miles from Chattanooga. Thomas, with the
14th Corps, was in the vicinity of Trenton, twenty-five miles
distant, while we, of McCook's Corps, were at Valley Head forty-
two miles from Chattanooga. This was the situation on the eve-
ning of September Cth. Could Gen. Rosecrans get the two corps
on the right, McCook and Thomas, over this great mountain

96 THIRD REUNION OF THE

quick enough, he could undoubtedly have shut Bragg and his
army up in Chattanooga, as Pemberton had been locked in
Vicksburg by Gen. Grant. Failing in this, however, he would,
by crossing Lookout get into his rear, threaten or perhaps cut
his line of communications, thus preventing the arrival of sup-
plies and re-enforcements. It seems that Gen. Rosecrans had
by this time received positive information of expected re-enforce-
ments from the army of Northern Virginia, so that whatever was
attempted must be done at once. Added to those reasons, it is
now stated authoritatively that Rosecrans had peremptory orders
from the War Department to move and to keep moving, also to
report his progress and the situation of his army daily. Know-
ing the natural obstacles that were to be overcome, it seems now
that such orders were senseless and uujust to the army, as well
as to its commander. However, on the 8th the movement over
Lookout Mountain commenced by the cavalry, by McCook's
corps at Winston's Gap; and by Thomas at Prick's, Cooper's
and Stevens' Gaps. The brigade of Gen. Post was left at Valley
Head in charge of supply trains, and also as a protection to the
right and rear. All day and night of the 8th the seemingly in-
terminabletrains and artillery of McCook's corpsrolled on through
our camp and up the mountain. As was afterward learned, they
went over into Broom Town Valley, one division going as far
south as Alpine, while the cavalry which accompanied them went
further, one division going within a few miles of Rome, Ga.
Gen. Thomas had made a successful crossing by the 9th, and a
reconnoisance around the north end of Lookout, on same date,
by Gen. Crittenden, developed the fact that Bragg had evacu-
ated Chattanooga on the day and night previous. On the 10th,
Gen. Crittenden, with all his trains, had passed around the north
end of the mountain and camped that night at Rossville, five
miles south of Chattanooga. This, then, was the situation on
that date.

The forces were all on the east side of Lookout Mountain;
Crittenden at Rossville, Thomas at McLemore's Cove, fifteen
miles south, and McCook at Broom Town and Alpine, thirty-
five miles south of Chattanooga, while Bragg was confronting
them near Lafayette and Ringgold, about twenty and twenty-five
miles east-of-south from Chattanooga. What was then known
to Gen. Rosecrans, but now to all, as it has since become a

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 9*7

matter of history, was the fact that Bragg was receiving large
re-enforcements. Brigades from Mobile and Charleston ; a
force of 10,000 under Buckner, from East Tennessee; and Long-
street's command from Lee's army had arrived, or were arriving
daily. Under these circumstances it was necessary that Rose-
crans should concentrate his forces at once, as there was a cer-
tainty of being attacked by vastly superior numbers. McCook
was directed to join Thomas with all possible speed, while
Thomas and Crittenden were ordered to move slightly to the
left and right, so as to unite their corps. It is seen by the situ-
ation that Bragg was practically between McCook and Thomas.
Consequently McCook dared not attempt to reach Thomas by
moving up on the east side of Lookout, fearing Bragg might
turn upon and crush him. Therefore he was compelled to move
up the mountain; but getting no satisfactory information in re-
gard to the mountain road, he marched his men back to Valley
Head, and from there moved back up the mountain, again cross-
ing at Stevens' Gap, thus joining Thomas near Crawfish Springs
on the 17th. This delay came very near being fatal, as, had
Bragg attacked before the arrival of McCook, it is more than
probable that all would have been lost. However, the attack
was not made until the 19th, and the only result of this delay
was that it prevented the Union commander from choosing the
battle ground. On the 18th, all having preceded us, our brigade,
which was still at Valley Head, was ordered to join the division.
We at once started, and that night camped on the mountain,
which we found to be quite level on top, and about fifteen miles
broad. The land was reasonably good, and covered with a fair
growth of timber. Here and there a squatter had a cabin and
small clearing, but on the whole the region was very sparsely
settled, and poorly watered.

Early on the morning of the 19th we moved on, and about
half-past ten reached the eastern brow of the mountain. The
command "file left" was given, and then came "halt! stack
arms." Just at that moment I looked out in front of the line,
and the view there presented was the grandest sight of my life.
We were within a few feet of the edge of the mountain, which
here fell away perpendicularly perhaps 300 or 400 feet, thus leav-
ing an unobstructed view across the entire state of Georgia, with
its verdant hills and valleys seeming to roll as the billows of the

98 THIRD REUNION OF THE

sea. In the distance lay what at first appeared to be a hazy
cloud, but with a little attention it was discerned to be a range
of mountains which are the dividing line between Georgia and
South Carolina. A trifle to the left a small fleecy cloud was
seen, which we were told was Mount Mitchell, the highest of
the Alleghanies; and distant 160 miles, upon a higher part of the
mountain just to our left was a signal station, and from this
point the mountains along the valley of the Tennessee could be
followed with the naked eye for over 1.00 miles. Surely no one
who was present will forget the magnificent view. To our left,
looking down into the valley 2,000 feet below us, and apparent-
ly at our feet, though distant say fifteen miles by air line, were
plainly seen the puffs of white smoke from the cannons of the
contending armies, upon the banks of what proved to be a verita-
ble river of blood.*

All day of the 19th, we remained on the crest of the mount-
ain, from which the movements of both armies were to be seen,
though somewhat indistinctly, as clouds of dust obscured the
vision in those narrow valleys. Gen. Post tells us that the or-
der to move came at 4:00 o'clock on the morning of the 20th of
September. It came from Gen. Garfield, who was then Rose-
crans' chief of staff, and read, "We are holding our ground —
move forward to the battlefield at once." Down into the valley
we descended and commenced our march, almost race, for Craw-
fish Springs, about twenty miles distant, which we reached short-
ly after noon. The day being very warm, many unable to keep
up fell out by the wayside, and were made prisoners by a force
of the enemy, which hung upon our flank and rear. Perhaps
some will recollect of our meeting three suspicious looking men
upon the road, some distance south of Crawfish. They claimed
to be citizens, and were allowed to pass on. One of those men
I met a short time ago at Robinson, Kansas, where he now re-
sides.

In conversation with him in regard to our perilous position,
he asserted that a division of rebel infantry, with two brigades
of cavalry, were in ambush near the road, expecting to capture
the entire brigade, but, seeing by the dust which extended a long
distance what they supposed to be a larger force than they ex-
pected, dare not attack, and we were allowed to pass in peace.

*It is said that the Indian word "Chickamauga" signifies river of blood.

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 99

Near Crawfish, we met Gen. Mitchell with a force of cavalry,
and there learned that our forces had changed position, so that
we were then directly in rear of the rebel army, only four miles
distant. Fortunately the supply trains, which had been left in
our charge at Valley Head, had been sent by the mountain road
from Stevens Gap towards Chattanooga, so that we were not
impeded by them. By rapid marching during the afternoon
and, night, now moving close up to the side of Lookout Mountain,
and again carefully feeling our way through narrow valleys, we
managed to pass the left flank of Bragg's army by daylight of the
morning of the 21st. However, the battle of the Chickamaugahad
been fought, and the troops under Gen. Thomas had fallen back
to Rossville, followed by the rebel forces during the night, so
that we were still practically behind the Confederates. Our
movements of the day previous were repeated, and by 9:00
o'clock, on the morning of the 22nd, we were in sight of Chatta-
nooga. Hemmed in and driven upon the side of the mountain,
with a corps of the Confederate army in position to dispute our
way into Chattanooga, whither our army had retired the day and
night previous, it still looked as if we could not escape capture.
However, a determined effort was made, the Seventy-fourth be-
ing thrown across the road as skirmishers. The very audacity
of this move probably saved us. While the Confederates paus-
ed as if awaiting an attack, the remainder of our little force, in-
cluding Mitchell's cavalry, double-quicked by our rear, and when
they safely passed the Seventy-fourth turned back into the road
and ran for it, reaching the bridge across Pea Vine Creek near
where it enters the Tennessee at the foot of Lookout, just in the
nick of time and under cover of the artillery, which had been
placed to cover our movement. In a few minutes we were able
to join the other brigades of our division which were a short dis-
tance up the creek, and at once fell into line and seized our shov-
els to throw up protecting earthworks. Thus ended the Chick-
amauga campaign, a campaign that has brought out a great deal
of adverse criticism. To those of us who were there and know
the difficult character of the country traversed, and the great odds
against us, it is a wonder that so much was accomplished.
When we call to mind the rugged mountains and great river
over which we passed, and toiled, marched and fought for a dis-
tance of hundreds of miles, we cannot think that America has

100 THIRD REUNION OF THE

cause to blush at the conduct of the gallant Army of the Cum-
berland, or of the energetic, persevering, indomitable officers
who led its veterans.

Capt. H. V. Freeman, in answer to a call, responded as
follows:

Comrades: You and I are both, I fear, the victims of mis-
placed confidence. When my friend Capt. Sherratt told me I
was to be called on to-day, he gave me to understand that it was
to be a sort of experience meeting, and that I was only one of a
good many who were simply to "heave in a few remarks." In-
stead of that I found myself announced for a formal, serious
speech, which I am not prepared to make at all. But I am al-
ways glad to be present at these reunions. I find my interest in old
army matters increasing as years go on. There was a time just
after the war ended, when I felt so glad that it was all happily over,
so grateful that I had come out of it retaining the possession and
use all my limbs and faculties, that I did not care to hear or talk
about the war. It was all too new in memory. I knew all
about what it was, and did not care to refresh my recollection.
This I suppose was an experience common to most of us. We
found ourselves then with new battles to fight. We had to en-
gage in the struggle for existence, to make our way in the world,
to win the victories of peace.

But now few things interest us more than recollections of
the old campaigns and battles. If there is one period of my life
of which I am proud it is my three years of army life. Many
soldiers look back, no matter what their subsequent success,
with more of satisfaction to that period of their lives than any other.

It was the time when of all others, no matter how insignificant
our own personal part in it was, we felt that we were living manly
lives, subjected to some of the severest tests of manhood.

I want to tell you about one member of the regiment whom
you will be glad to hear from. A few weeks ago, going up to the
United States Court Rooms in the Custom House building at
Chicago, I chanced to take a different elevator from the one I
have usually taken. I did not notice the man in charge until a
quiet voice said to me, "How do you do?" and I saw that
the speaker was Adjutant Nieman. I was very glad to see him
again, and regret that he could not be with us to-day. I know
you will agree with me that he ought to have a better position.

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 101

I hope that some of those here will be able to exert influence
enough to get him some more lucrative place. Ill health had
thrown him out of his occupation, and he has taken what he
could to do, like a good soldier.

I never think of Nieman that I do not call to mind an inci-
dent which happened when we were in camp at Edgefield, just
across the river from Nashville. It was before our colonel had
become familiar enough with tactics to be able to drill the regi-
ment without the adjutant's aid. One day when we were out
on drill, the colonel undertook to conduct the exercises himself.
He probably felt some distrust of his own knowledge just then,
for he spent considerable time, I recollect, in dressing and re-
dressing the ranks, and getting the file closers in exact alignment,
which of course he could do pretty well. Then he gave the or-
der, "By the right of companies to the rear into column," and
stopped. "Say 'right face,' Colonel; say Bright face!' Battalion
right face,' " whispered the adjutant loud enough for the whole
line to hear. So the colonel said "right face," and stopped
again. The company officers broke files to the rear and waited
for the rest of the order which somehow did not come. Mean-
while the adjutant saw that something was the matter with Co.
G — they were right next to Co. K, but they never would do as
we did, and we could not teach them anything. So away he
went on that little black horse of his to straighten out Co. G —
Meanwhile the colonel sat on his horse looking blankly at the
regiment, wondering why it didn't move off, and the men were
wondering why he didn't give the final part of the order to move.
When the adjutant got the left of the line fixed to suit him, he
saw what the matter was and started back toward the colonel at
full gallop, but before he could get there his impatience got the
better of him, and he called out eagerly, "Say '•March!' colonel;
say 'March?' " and as the colonel didn't respond, he waved his
sword in the air furiously and shouted out "Mar-r-rchf"

My recollection is that the colonel didn't drill the regiment
any more that day. But if he was at first a little slow in learn-
ing how to act as drill master, one thing every man of us knows,
a braver soldier never lived than Col. Jason Marsh. The regi-
ment owes more to its brave old colonel in that respect than per-
haps we have ever realized. In the time when shot and shell
are flying about the example of a fearless man who appears in-

102 THIRD REUNION OF THE

sensible to danger is of inestimable value, and that example the
Seventy-fourth always had from its colonel. He was a kindly
man, too. I well remember one occasion when the pair of new
boots I had taken from home, thinking in my freshness that they
would be so much better than the army shoe to march in, when
those miserable boots had blistered my feet so that every step
was torture, and I had to discard them, the colonel, seeing my
predicament one day on the march, got off his horse and com-
pelled me, against my will, to ride. That showed genuine kind-
ness of a sort one did not always meet from superior officers.
He has fought his last battle. He sleeps "the sleep that knows
no waking." Peace to his ashes. His memory is and ever will
be green, while we live, in the hearts of his old regiment.

I remember an incident of another sort in connection with
the adjutant. I saw him and brave old Captain Bacon of Co. G
in the hospital, both wounded, after Kenesaw Mountain. The
captain had lost both arms near theshoulders, but with undaunt-
ed courage was still bravely fighting for life, though, as the se-
quel showed, in vain. He died soon after from his wounds. I
was impressed at the time with the kind attentions the adjutant,
himself wounded, was trying to give the captain, as they lay
upon cots side by side in the hospital.

The campaign, the story of which we have just listened to,
was the last one in which I took part with the Seventy-fourth.
We did not come in immediate contact again until at the battle
of Nashville. There it was my fortune to take part in that
charge on Overton's Hill, where Gen. Post, our old brigade com-
mander, was so severely, though happily not fatally, wounded.
You saw that charge yourselves, and know whether we did our
work well. One hundred and twenty-one of the officers and
men of my regiment, if I recollect correctly, were there killed
and wounded almost in less time than I have taken to tell the
story.

That charge suggests to me another thought. I have taken
occasion of late years to examine some of the improvements
which have been made in artillery and small arms, and as a re-
sult I am profoundly grateful to-day that my military career end-
ed before these new inventions came into use. Our war stimu-
lated invention in this direction most wonderfully, and I believe
that the .survivors of our armies are the last men who will ever

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 103

live to tell the story of a direct charge upon a well manned bat-
tery. I don't believe that a battery of Gatling guns, for instance,
supported by men armed with a weapon like the new breach-
loading Springfield rifle, can ever be taken by a direct charge.
And out of the fullness of your experience at such places as Ken-
esaw Mountain and Nashville, I am quite sure none of us ever
want to try it again.

Seldom, comrades, have any soldiers had such reason for
congratulation as the survivors of the Union army. We are for-
tunate not only in belonging to the triumphant side in the great
conflict, fortunate not only in having escaped that ultimate sac-
rifice which so many of our comrades bravely yielded, but trebly
fortunate in living to w itness the great moral triumph of our
cause. Few of us believed twenty-three years ago that we should
ever live, no matter what might be the result of the conflict, to
see the Union again completely restored, as we see it to-day, a
Union of hearts, as well as a Union of states. But we have
lived to see the men whom we fought confessing that our cause
was just. Men of the south to-day rejoice, as we do, in our tri-
umph, in a Union restored, in slavery abolished; and we have
the proud satisfaction that because of the struggle of which we
were a part, our free institutions will be handed down, not only
unimpaired, but strengthened and invigorated, let us hope, be-
yond our children's children.

Our historian to-day, Sergeant Black, has referred to an in-
cident in connection with the sutler. I remember another inci-
dent which gave another regimental sutler occasion to remember,
not altogether gratefully, some men of the Seventy-fourth. It
was, I think, on the march from Winchester to Stevenson, over
the Cumberland range of mountains, a march of which our his-
torian has been telling. It properly comes in, therefore, in con-
nection with that part of our regimental history, though perhaps
hardly worthy of serious record. It was when we were going up
the mountains that hot afternoon. You will remember that it
was a pretty steep climb. The brigade battery had to be help-
ed up by hand, and it was rather tough lifting too. Of course
the sutler's wagons had to be helped also, and most of them had
been wise enough to let their stores go around by rail, going
themselves with the command with nearly empty wagons. But
one German sutler, belonging to some regiment the number of

104 THIRD REUNION OF THE

which I have forgotten, had quite a stock of good things on
board; of course he needed help, and I noticed that for some
reason the Seventy-fourth seemed really a good deal more will-
ing to help ////// along than they had been to help the battery;
and while I was revolving this singular fact in my mind, I no-
ticed that they were keeping the sutler busily employed at the
head of the struggling team, and that notwithstanding there were
about a dozen men at each mule and each wheel, they seemed
to think it necessary to lighten the load. To do so, doubtless,
they were rolling out of the hind end of the wagon a couple of
kegs of beer, a barrel of ginger snaps, and some other similar
luxuries, which were immediately concealed in the bushes, pre-
sumably for safe keeping, until the sutler should return for them.
I noticed, too, that you were so solicitous about them that every
man seemed to think it necessary to go there personally, in his
turn, to see that the things were safe. Let us hope the record-
ing angel dropped a few tears over the language, forcible if not
polite, which that sutler thought necessary to do justice to the
occasion, when he discovered how his wagon had been lightened.
I trust the taste of that beer is not bitter in your mouths to-day.
We are getting old. Soon but few of us will answer to the
muster-roll at these annual reunions. It will not be long before
the last one is gone. But while we live we can never forget the
years when we marched and fought together for our flag and our
country.

Maj. T. J. L. Remington was then introduced, and began
by stating that Sergeant Black had told the full story of the Tul-
lahoma campaign, thus making his not worth the telling. He
was about to retire when the vociferous cries of his auditors and
old comrades forced him to continue. Contenting himself with
recollections solely, the Major told of how Quartermaster Mor-
rill, rigged up without regard to cost in a brand new uniform,
was frightened by the Twenty-second Indiana firing off their
guns in order to clean them, and the persistent determination of
the aroused officer to shoot a darky galloping across the field
whom he took for rebel cavalry. The Major was stationed in
the gap of Cumberland Mountains previous to and during the
battle of Chickamauga. The elevated position of their command
gave them a view of the battle which lay stretched out at their

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 105

feet. The retreat after the battle of Chattanooga was narrated,
and many amusing incidents of Col. Marsh's ability to blunder
in making military evolutions cropped out in the narration.

President Holland at this juncture received and read the fol-
lowing telegram:

OREGON, Sept. 4.

President of the Seventy-fourth Illinois Reunion Assoeiation:
The Ninety-second Illinois Infantry, now in reunion at Oregon,
send hearty greeting to their late comrades in arms, the Seventy-
fourth Illinois Infantry, and hope the pleasant associations en-
gendered twenty-three years ago at Camp Fuller may continue
until the last veteran shall have answered to the final roll call.

CAPT. E. T. E. BECKER.

Mr. Holland then read the response he had written in reply,

which was a follows:

ROCKFORD, Sept. 4.

CAPT. E. T. E. BECKER: The Seventy-fourth acknowledges
the fraternal greeting of its old comrades of the Ninety-second,
and assures them that the memories of twenty-three years ago
are recalled with great pleasure. H. P. HOLLAND.

Col. Brazee was then called for, and spoke of the enjoyment
old soldiers have in these reunions; how rank had been forgot-
ten, and the old soldiers were an enduring brotherhood.

Capt. T. G. Lawler, of the Nineteenth Illinois, the popular
commander of Nevius Post No. 1, G. A. R., was called for, and
said:

Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Comrades: I am always reminded
of a story whenever I attend a reunion of old soldiers. A parrot
was out on the sidewalk one day, and seeing a dog running
along, called out, "sick 'em; sick 'em," and the dog made for
the parrot. After a lively tussle the parrot got loose, flew up on
the porch of the house, took an inventory, and found she had
lost all her feathers, and was used up generally. After looking
herself all over she said, "Polly talks too damn much." So I
think in regard to these gatherings, we "talk too d — n much."

But, comrades of the gallant old Seventy-fourth Illinois, I
congratulate you on the success of this your third annual reunion
— and as a member of the grand old army of the Cumberland,
and as a citizen of Winnebago county, I extend to you greetings
and a hearty welcome to the place, where, twenty-three years ago,
you formed yourselves into a regiment and started to the front.
These reunions are pleasant to comrades. What a thrill of pleas-

106 THIRD REUNION OF THE

ure goes through our veins as we grasp each other by the hand.
It is good for us to come together once each year, and touch
elbows with those who have stood shoulder to shoulder with us
in many a fierce battle. It is true that regiments (like individ-
uals) in great armies lose their individuality; yet, comrades, you
have the consciousness of knowing that your gallant regiment
did its full share of duty and trials in one of the grandest armies
of the late war — the old Army of the Cumberland. I would not
take one leaf from the laurel of fame won by other armies, yet I
am free to say that the Army of the Cumberland had more to
contend with than any other army in the field, for this reason:
we operated at a greater distance from our base of supplies; we
had no gunboats to keep open our line of cummunications and
supplies, but had to depend on a single track of a "wheezy" old
road from Louisville down into the very heart of the Confeder-
acy. Now we all know that an army will fight at any time, but
you must supply rations and ammunition. As our gallant com-
mander, Gen. Rosecrans, said, "A good soldier eats well, sleeps
well, and fights well;" — and, one of the boys added, "and drinks
well."

The Army of the Cumberland was first formed at Louisville,
Ky., in September, 1861, to protect Louisville, Cincinnati, and
other northern cities from the rebel army under Buckner. See
the list of its gallant commanders: first, Gen. Robert Anderson,
the hero of Fort Sumpter; then the greatest executive officer and
the second greatest commander of any armies, William Tecum-
seh Sherman; then that superb soldier, Don Carlos Buell; then
that brave, gallant soldier, one who was idolized by the Army of
the Cumberland for his kindness to his men, who always won,
W. S. Rosecrans; and then by that grand old soldier, the noblest
Roman of them all, the rock of Chickamauga, George H. Thomas.
See the Army of the Cumberland sweep from Louisville to Perry -
ville, where the gallant old Seventy-fourth Illinois received its
first baptism of fire; then Stone River; then that bloodless cam-
paign of Tullahoma — bloodless, yet effective in gaining our ob-
jective point, and hurling Bragg back to the Cumberland Mount-
ains; then over the mountains, in the thicket of Chickamauga,
where the hardest fought battle of the war took place. It was a
fearful hand-to-hand encounter against the combined forces of
Bragg, Longstreet and Pemberton for the possession of Chatta-

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 107

nooga. We won at a loss of over 10,000 killed, wounded and
prisoners. The rebel loss was over 20,000; they had over 68,000
men to our 58,000. Then followed the storming of Lookout
Mountain and the battle of Mission Ridge, under that peerless
soldier whose loss the world mourns to-day — U. S. Grant; then
how part of the army, the Seventy-fourth included, started
hungry and barefooted to the relief of Burnsideat Knoxville; then
came Buzzard Roost, Dalton and Resaca, Calhoun and Adairs-
ville, Kingston, Dallas, Altoona and Kenesaw Mountain, Peach
Tree Creek and Atlanta, Lovejoy's Station and Jonesboro, Frank-
lin and Nashville; and part of the Army of the Cumberland
swept through with Sherman from "Atlanta to the sea," up
through the Carolinas to that grand review at Washington. Such,
comrades, was your history, and is it a wonder that we feel proud
on such an occasion as this?

Comrades, I hope you will continue to hold these reunions
until the last long roll is sounded, and I shall always be pleased to
attend them with you either in Oregon or any other place. I
thank you Mr. Chairman and comrades and hope we may all
live to meet one year from this time in Ogle county.

The bravery of Col. Marsh and his good-hearted treatment
of his men was spoken of by Mr. Holland, Capt. Freeman, and
several members of the regiment.

Lieut. McKeig closed the formal exercises of the day by pay-
ing a tribute to the ladies of Rockford who fed the boys so well
twenty years ago, and so well again to-day.

The regiment then formed and marched to the G. A. R.
Hall.

THE EVENING SESSION.

In the evening at 8:00 o'clock President Holland called the
members of the association to order in Grand Army Hall. There
were a large number of visitors present including ladies. Mr.
Holland made a few remarks, and Dr. McAffee favored the audi-
ence with an army song. He was heartily applauded and re-
sponded to the encore with another selection. Lieut. McKeig
of Lincoln, Neb., followed with remarks. He gave an interesting
sketch of the Seventy-fourth, and spoke of their fighting qual-
ities.

Robert Simpson, having given the subject of who brought
up the rear from Spring Hill to Franklin considerable study,

108 THIRD REUNION OF THE

was called for, and gave his reminiscences. He related the story,
of the retreat, and how, when the news came that the boys in the
hospital would be given an election furlough, what a scramble
there was to be under the surgeon's care. What a pleasant
thing it was to get a furlough and free transportation. Robert
had visited the old fighting ground on three occasions since
the war, but now everything was changed, and the comrades
would not recognize the locality where, over twenty years ago,
they shed their blood in the defence of the flag and Union.

Dr. McAffee gave "Old Shady."

Comrade Fuller was asked to relate his experience in Ander-
sonville, but excused himself on the ground that he was there
only a few days.

James Regan gave the old veterans one of the best speeches
of the evening, relating his experiences at Stone River, and con-
cluded by relating the story of the disappearance of the pies,
some 300 in number. He said Co. G had more pie the night the
food was stolen than ever before or since. His remarks were
quite witty, and received considerable applause.

Regan having created a laugh at the expense of Co. G, it
was necessary to retaliate. Joseph Hawthorne was called on to
say something in reply for Co. G. He remembered when his
company first came to Camp Fuller in this city, it was called
"Dutcher's Roughs." They were next to another company
known as the "Christian Company." He related one or two in-
cidents to show the thieving propensities of Regan's associates.

Dr. McAffee recited "Barbara Fritchie," the German ver-
sion, and convulsed the audience with laughter.

Capt. Freeman and Lieut. McKeig both spoke very eulo-
gistically of Col. Kerr, and hoped at the next meeting some ac-
tion on his death would be taken. On motion it was voted that
Capt. Freeman and A. J. Guilford be a committee to prepare
suitable resolutions respecting Col. Kerr.

After singing "John Brown's Body" and "Marching through
Georgia," the meeting broke up, and the reunion of 1885 was a
thing of the past.

Proceedings Fourth Reunion

September 4th, 1556, Oregon, Illinois

PRESENT 107.

BUSINESS MEETING.

The fourth annual reunion of the Seventy-fourth Regiment
Illinois Volunteers, was held in the fair grounds, Oregon,
Illinois, the 4th of September, a lovely autumn day.

At 9:00 o'clock in the morning one hundred and two of the
members, together with their families, arrived from the north
and east by a special passenger train, which conveyed them to
Washington street. There the ladies and scions of the comrades
were received by comrades Albany Matmiller, John Matmiller,
Daniel Farrell and D. Stout, transferred to the fair grounds in
carriages, while the veterans formed in two ranks, headed by
their Major Dutcher, and with three stands of their old colors, to
martial music, marched over the route. They were a fine ap-
pearing body of representative men, and none who saw them
marching knee to knee and shoulder to shoulder, could repress
the patriotic feelings that become every true American.

The exercises were held just north-east of Art Hall, where
seats had been arranged beneath a clump of trees.

The forenoon was devoted to a business meeting, at which
comrade Joseph F. Hawthorne, President, presided, and social
intercourse. Officers were elected for the ensuing two years:

HOSMER P. HOLLAND, Co. C. President.

110 FOURTH REUNION OF THE

VICE-PRESIDENTS.

James S. Cowwan Company A

Charles E. Wells " B

Cyrus Miller " C

John Bronson " D

David Dawson ^ '•' E

Lemuel Fuller " F

George Petrie e " G

Geo. S. Lockwood " H

Jacob Wagner " I

H. B. Utter " K

JOHN H. SHERRATT, Co. K, Secretary.

ROBERT SIMPSON, Co. C, Treasurer.

Moved and seconded that a committee of two be appointed
to prepare a history of the regiment from June, 1864, to the fall
of Atlanta. Carried.

T. F. HAWTHORNE, |,, ...
*, -n u VCommittee.

H. P. HOLLAND, j

On motion of H. P. Holland, Capt. J. H. Sherratt was re-
quested to submit a paper at the next reunion, righting the in-
justice done to Gen. George H. Thomas by Gen. Grant in his
"Memoirs."

The following resolution was adopted:

Resolved, That the report of the committee be approved, and
the original flag and banner be forwarded to Springfield and
placed in Memorial Hall.

On motion, a vote of thanks was extended to Mrs. Clara W.
Hart, of Clinton, Iowa, by members of the regiment.

It was decided that the next reunion should be held at Rock-
ford the last Wednesday in August, 1888.

At least two hundred sat down to the bounteous dinner pro-
vided by the ladies of Co. G residing in Oregon. The number
represented several other regiments, and they declared the din-
ner splendid, and gave a unanimous vote of thanks to the loyal
ladies for the magnificent banquet, which included both dinner
and supper, provided gratuitously. And since the reunion com-
rade Farrell received a letter from comrades in Rockford, reiter-
ating thanks to the ladies of Co. G, and those ladies who so
kindly assisted them. Chaplain Barton Cartwright, of the Nine-
ty-second regiment, asked an old-style army blessing.

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. Ill

The regiment was also drawn up in line and photographed.

Company G's "red-headed negro," (represented by Dan.
Farrell's son, "Preacher," came riding into camp on his small
black mule, loaded down with forage. On each side of his
saddle hung hams, live chickens, potatoes, corn, an old army
blanket, a "Dutch" oven, and he carried a musket. He made a
typical contraband.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

ADDRESS OF WELCOME BY MAYOR R. C. BURCHKLL.

Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Seventy-fourth : xAgain I
am fortunate in being allowed the privilege, the honor I had
better said, to address some of the late soldiers of the late war
for the Union. In this regard I have been lucky, for it was only
the other day that a like honor was conferred upon me, and a
like duty performed; then it was to the old soldiers of this county
in the aggregate, to men who, when they were indeed soldiers,
and doing duty as such, belonged to many companies and many
regiments; to-day I am for a like purpose, to address the same
men and others, not as then as the old soldiers of Ogle county,
but as the Seventy-fourth regiment. I know well that to the
loyal and patriotic people of this little city it will never make any
difference how the old soldier comes, whether singly, in squads,
in companies or in regiments, and that any one of the regiments
raised in Illinois would be heartily and bountifully welcomed by
this generous people; while there are just an hundred good and
sufficient reasons why the Seventy-fourth should be especially
welcome, and that one alone of that hundred would be sufficient
to secure it. Ogle county, I believe, in her generous giving to
the army, could spare but one company to that gallant regiment,
but what she lacked in numbers she made up in quality. I should
like to, but of course cannot, follow this regiment from the battle
of Perryville, in which, through some official incompetency, it
failed to have a share, to that at Franklin, while under the brave,
the wise and prudent Gen. Thomas, the boys of the Seventy-
fourth did honor to themselves and the State, and shared in the
glory of one of the most decisive battles and victories of the war.
Would that we could linger by the way between the points to
note the acts of individual, of personal bravery and daring, which

112 FOURTH REUNION OF THE

so adorned the record made by this regiment. Such may become
matters of history, and they may not, for usually the brave deeds
of the private soldier is merged in the fame of the chief in com-
mand, and are but so many sprigs in his crown of laurels ; this
is why the history of the war, with all its lights and shades, with
all its varied circumstances, can never be, is never fully known.
Full many an act of individual daring, chivalrous dash and bear-
ing, which perhaps turned the tide of battle and brought victory
where defeat seemed imminent, seen and known by but a few, is
lost in the general whole, without special credit to the doer.
History after all is but a scanty record, mere outlines of past
events; an imperfect and meager picture, showing large things
only, with camera too imperfect and light, too weak to receive
and transmit the finer shades of incident, of character and of men;
but this is unavoidable, .and we must be content with what we
have; and, as a regiment, the Seventy-fourth has much — how
much, let Perryville, where, though not actually engaged, did
good work in capturing baggage trains and prisoners, Nolensville,
Stone River, Liberty Gap, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Rockyface
Ridge, Resaca, Adairsville, Dallas, Lost Mountain, Kenssaw
Mountain, Smyrna, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Love-
joy, Columbia, Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville tell.

It would indeed be an ungrateful country, a heartless and
forgetful people, who should fail to appreciate such services, or
undervalue the heroes by whom they were rendered. That day
I hope will never come, when the men who risked so much and
achieved so gloriously will be forgotten or neglected. The bat-
tles you helped to win, the victories you bore so gallant a part
in achieving, were not the battles of one nation alone, but were
the battles of civilized humanity everywhere; and the victories
primarily won in behalf of home and country, reached, and must
continue to reach, as far as to the most distant intelligence on
every spot of this planet of ours. To you in part were intrusted
the most valuable interests of the race; into your hands and that
of your brave comrades in arms from all the faithful states, the
nation, the people placed that flag; consecrated to freedom by
the blood of the earlier patriots, and like them you pledged your
lives, your fortunes and your sacred honor to defend and sustain it.
You have kept your pledge to the very letter, for there it waves,
the sacred emblem of man's dearest rights, brighter, purer, great-

SEVENTY- FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 113

er than before; greater, because more stars are seen to cluster
around the old thirteen, purer and brighter because the foul
spots that once so marred and hid its beauty have been washed
out in the blood of the later patriots. Holy banner of liberty,
twice consecrated, twice dedicated to human progress, let us
hope that the hand of wicked treason, or the senseless ambition
of designing men, may never assail it again; from outside foes it
has nothing to fear, it is beyond the point of possible danger,
for millions as brave, as stout of heart, as full of love of country,
as devoted to the cause of equal rights for all men as its late de-
fenders, are keeping watch and guard about it, ready at a mo-
ment's warning to protect it with their bodies, and if need be
with their lives, even as a mother would her offspring; a child
its parents, or the father the household gods, his wife and chil-
dren. From one source alone was danger to be apprehended;
that danger came, was met, and by you, and others like you, con-
quered and finally subdued.

What then? What should follow? O! nothing, we hope,
but a time of a nation's prosperity and peace, wherein the people
on our borders now called aliens, may learn from us the worth
and excellence of republican institutions, and claim and get place
in the great family of states, with the right to hail that flag as
their own; a time when education among the people shall be as
cheap and common as the air; a time when the words of the
teacher shall be understood by himself and his pupils, and lead us
to a better knowledge of ourselves.

The people here watched this gallant regiment from the time
it broke camp at Rockford till the day when all that was left of
our share of it came back to us. But, alas, some were missing,
some were left behind to return no more; in every battle some
hero fell, some patriot was found among the slain. But at Ken-
esaw, if comparison may be used without injustice, we met our
heaviest loss, for there the brave and competent soldier and cap-
tain, Bowman W. Bacon, fell. I do not say that others were
not as brave, but none were braver; I do not say that others in
this regiment were not as competent, but none were more so.
We in this vicinity knew him well, and built largely on a brilli-
ant future for him, for he was a born soldier and loved the place
he filled so well; but this was not to be. Death came too soon
and cancelled the fairest promises for future fame and future use

114 FOURTH REUNION OF THE

fulness. He met his fate like a hero and a philosopher. When
the attending surgeon advised him that the end was near, he
calmly replied, "Well, doctor, what matters it; many braver and
greater men have died in this cause." Brave heart, noble sol-
dier, braver never died for any cause, and greatness failed, wast-
ing opportunity! But he was right; for what does it matter when
the order comes, if, when it does come, we are not found sleep-
ing on our post. He was not, for it overtook him with his face
to the foe, doing battle for the right; and he could have added,
as a truthful and farewell message to his friends and comrades,
the grand, unselfish thought of another:

"Whether on the scaffold high,

Or in the battle's van,
The fittest place for man to die
Is where he dies for man."

He was not 'alone; there were thousands to whom the
language of the poet would have justly applied. For his sake,
if for no other, the Seventy-fourth would be received and sin-
cerely welcomed; but in addition there are the ninety-nine others
who went out with him to do duty in the same cause, and were
not all the men of this regiment neighbors from the adjoining
counties? Is it surprising then that your welcome here should
be hearty and genuine, when we remember so well how gallant-
ly you assisted in restoring peace to your country. For this
you have, and always must have, the good will of all good men.

In the name of the people of this city, then, I bid you wel-
come, as hearty as your desires could make it, regretting that
your ranks are not fuller, and that the people here were not per-
mitted a larger share in providing for your comforts during your
brief stay with us. Be assured that we are glad to see and wel-
come you, and that we hope that this reunion maybe remember-
ed as one of the most pleasant yet held by this regiment.

In response, comrade H. P. Holland, of Co. C, accepted the
evidences of genuine welcome, and congratulated the regiment
on their good fortune in falling into the hands of the good Sam-
aritans of the inimitable resort. He touched upon the record of
the regiment with commendable pride.

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 115

HISTORY OF THE SEVENTY-FOURTH REGIMENT
FROM THE OCCUPATION OF CHATTANOOGA TO
THE BEGINNING OF THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

BY ROBERT SIMPSON.

Comrades of the Seventy-fourth Illinois: The duty of preparing
a paper to be read on this occasion, the fourth annual reunion
and twenty-fourth anniversary of our muster into the service of
the United States, devolves upon me, by your action taken a
year ago at our third reunion held at Rockford.

Craving the indulgence and charity of my old comrades-in-
arms in this attempt of mine to refresh your remembrance of
those trying times when we stood shoulder to shoulder for the unity
and preservation of our common cause.

I have been greatly aided in the preparation of these remin-
iscences by comrade Black, of Co. A, now of Jessup, Iowa, and
comrades Holland and Beatson, of Rockford.

Twenty-four years ago to-day the Seventy-fourth Illinois,
with uplifted hands and bared heads, took the solemn obligatfon
to defend with their lives the integrity of the republic and the
unity of her people; to carry that starry flag, and bring it back
unsullied from the field of battle.

How well they performed that duty let the silent mounds
that mark the last resting places of our fallen comrades all the
way from the Chattahoochee, in the valley and on the hillside,
by mountain and stream, by forest and field, by the empty sleeve,
by the crippled and maimed soldier — all tell more eloquently
than I can a duty well performed.

Comrades, the subject of this paper is a continuation of the
series that will ultimately form a connected history of the Sev-
enty-fourth Illinois.

I will begin with the occupation of Chattanooga in Septem-
ber, 1863, and close with the great Atlanta campaign of 1864.

In the forenoon of September '22nd, 1863, we, with our bri-
gade, entered Chattanooga and rejoined our division, from which
we had been separated since September 8th, and at once renew-
ed our acquaintance with the picks and shovels we left at Mur-
freesboro. On the 23rd we formed our lines on the north bank
of Chattanooga Creek, a considerable stream, with steep banks,
that empties into the Tennessee river near the foot of Lookout

116 FOURTH REUNION OF THE

Mountain. Here we found a good line of works, which we con-
tinued to strengthen until they would resist cannon shot.

That afternoon a Confederate scout rode down to the fort,
in our front, and coolly watered his horse. Many of the Seven-ty-
fourth were in and about the creek and could easily have caught
his bridle-rein, had they known who he was, but supposing him
to be a Union spy they did not interfere until he leisurely turned
the horse up the south bank. When the cry "reb" was raised,
he put spurs to his horse, and was out of sight in the woods be-
fore those of us on the north bank could fire a shot, although not
more than fifty feet distant.

While strengthening the works, Co. C was thrown forward
across Lookout creek, some distance in front, into a thick wood,
and formed a picket line in front of our regiment to guard against
surprise, and remained on the line all of that night. About ten
o'clock in the evening the pickets on our left, belonging to the
Twenty-second Indiana, were attacked and driven back to the
main line across the creek. Our left was also driven back for
some distance, and took cover in the woods. The reserve im-
mediately deployed as skirmishers, to cover the retreat of our vi-
dette pickets, who were driven some distance, but soon formed a
new line, and held it with more or less skirmishing until morning.

In the afternoon of the 24th, the Seventy-fourth andTwenty-
second Indiana made a reconnoisance to the south side of the
creek, to feel the enemy and ascertain their position and strength.
We soon found them in strong force, and after exchanging a few
shots we marched leisurely back to camp, with the loss of one
man wounded. We remained on this line eight days, sleeping
in the trenches every night, I think, without tents and with few
blankets, and suffered much in the night for want of them.

About October 1st this line was abandoned, and we moved
nearer town, just south of the union depot, and facing the south
toward Lookout Mountain. Here we formed a much shorter cir-
cular line; the left wing of the army resting on the Tennessee
river, at the outskirts of the town on the north-east; our right
resting on the river, between the town and Lookout Mountain.
We also held and fortified what was known as Moccasin Point,
on the west side of the river. Our batteries from that point vig-
orously replied to the enemy's batteries stationed on the extreme
point of Lookout.

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 117

Every few days it was reported that Bragg gave notice that
he was about to shell the place, and to have the women and chil-
dren removed to a place of safety. No attention was paid to it;
however, he would keep up a sort of desultory shelling for two
or three days, and sometimes nights, from the tops of Lookout
and Missionary Ridge; but it did us very little damage; only oc-
casionally forcing us to take cover behind our entrenchments.
When we abandoned our outer line of works all the fine resi-
dences in the suburbs were burned down and destroyed, to pre-
vent the enemy's using them as protection for their sharpshoot-
ers, and to give our artillery a chance to play if the enemy made
an attempt to carry the place by storm; the trees, for the same
purpose, were all cut away.

About this time a flag of truce was sent out to the Confed-
erate lines to make arrangements with them to send out our am-
bulances to the Chickamauga battle field to bring in our wound-
ed, who still remained on that bloody field. Accordingly the
next day four or five hundred ambulances went out; they were
met at the lines, and our drivers gave up their places to the
"Johnnies," who took them out to the battle field, and return-
ed the next day loaded with our wounded comrades. This was
repeated for three days before they were all brought in.

During October and part of November we worked on the
fortifications. One fort I well remember, the Star fort, just west
of town, and a little south-eastof Camaron's Hill, we built a large
share of it. By October 5th we were on less than half rations,
except beef, and that was extremely poor, having been driven
on foot all the way from Louisville, Kentucky, a distance of near-
ly three hundred and fifty miles. Many of the supplies we usu-
ally got were omitted entirely.

For a long time all supplies had to be transported from
Bridgeport, Alabama, only thirty-seven miles by rail, but ninety
miles by Jasper, and over Waldon's Ridge; afterward this dis-
tance was somewhat reduced by keeping the river road with the
loaded teams, and running the gauntlet of the rebel sharp-shoot-
ers, stationed at a place on the river called the narrows. Here
many of the mules were killed, and some of the drivers lost their
lives.

About October 15th we had had nothing issued to us for an
entire day, but a train was expected, and we were told it

118 FOURTH REUNION OF THE

would be in at mid-day. Many soldiers were on Cameron's Hill
and other points anxiously watching the points on Waldron's
Ridge (about eight miles distant) where the train could be first
seen as it descended the mountain. However, time passed; ten
o'clock, eleven o'clock, and even two p. m., and yet no train in
sight. At three o'clock a solitary horseman was seen approach-
ing the pontoon bridge, and, as he was not halted, we knew he
was the bearer of important dispatches to the general in com-
mand. On he rode directly to Gen. Rosecrans' headquarters.
Bad news spread rapidly in the army as well as elsewhere, and
it was but a few minutes until we learned that Wheeler's cavalry
had captured the train and burned four hundred wagons, besides
driving off or stampeding three thousand head of cattle that were
with it.

The situation was truly discouraging; and yet, to the ever-
lasting credit of that grand old Army of the Cumberland, we
have yet to hear the first regret or complaint.

In these later days it is said that an evacuation was contem-
plated. But in those days such a thing was never contemplated,
never so much as intimated. All were willing to make any sac-
rifice within the bounds of human' endurance to hold what we
had gained. However, on this occasion all went supperless to
sleep, without any hope of getting a mouthful of food.

On the morrow, some time after midnight, we awakened
from pleasant dreams of a good dinner at home, or at Miller's
restaurant, with the cry, "get up and get your beef." At first
we thought it was a camp joke, but finally got up, and sure
enough there it was, and in double quantity. It seems that the
authorities at Bridgeport had learned that Wheeler had' crossed
the river and started a force of cavalry to overtake the train which
had been out two days.

They reached the ground too late to save many of the wagons,
but the officer in charge, knowing the desperate strait of the
army at Chattanooga, at once set his men to collecting a herd of
scattered cattle, and at once driving them in. They arrived, as
we have said, in time to furnish meat for breakfast.

Some officers are lauded for courage and some for skill; but
this one has on the tablets of my memory (although I never
learned his name), a long credit mark for good common sense.

When we first began to get short rations, we used to eat our

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 119

three days' allowance of rations the first day, (at least it was so
with my mess) then the next two days go hungry, or skirmish
around for something to eat. We generally skirmished.

A favorite mode of my mess was to go down to the warehouse
in the evening when the supply trains were being unloaded, wait
until a wagon would be unloaded and drive away; — most of the
empty wagons had a great many pieces of broken hard tack in
the bottom, that the teamsters would take to the corrall with
them, to eke out their own scanty supply — watch our chance
and jump on to the tail-board of the wagon, reach in and claw
up the broken pieces and throw them back to a comrade who
would follow after with an improvised apron made from a "pup
tent, "to catch the pieces as they flew back. This was always
done on the fly, for then the noise of the wheels prevented the
driver from hearing us draw our extra rations.

As the fall advanced the rains set in and made the roads al-
most impassable; our teams and artillery horses were dying by
thousands for want of food; in fact, we could not stir our artil-
lery at all, and if we had abandoned the place it would all have
fallen into the hands of the enemy.

The long continued rains also damaged our supplies in
transit. The crackers had all to be sorted over in Chattanoo-
ga before being issued. Every day hundreds of soldiers would
congregate at the warehouse where this was going on, and wait
around until a quantity was assorted, when the men that had been
sorting would take the poor pieces and throw them out among
the crowd of hungry soldiers. They were eagerly seized before
they reached the ground and were considered quite a bonanza
to the nearly famished troops. They were taken to camp and
fried in water; and, if a little grease could be added, were con-
sidered quite a dainty dish that had a distinctive army name that
died with the war. Even bogus butter would have been appre-
ciated in those days.

At this time it was a great treat to be detailed to guard a
forage or supply train. It was my luck, with a great many more
of our brigade, to be detached to guard a supply train to Bridge-
port and return. We took the long road over Waldron's Ridge
to Bridgeport, via Sequachie Valley, Dunlap and Jasper. The
first night we camped on the summit of the mountain, and during
the night thirteen of our mules died of actual starvation; this was

120 FOURTH REUNION OF THE

followed all the way, but not to so great an extent. I made an
estimate at the time, that on the two roads we passed over there
were dead mules enough to have made one continuous line,
placed head to tails, to reach from Chattanooga to Bridgeport.

After arriving at Bridgeport, a party of us were detailed to
go on a foraging expedition ten or twelve miles west of Stephen-
son, on the same road we had passed over before, when we
moved from Winchester to Stephenson, but before we got to the
forage the boys deployed as skirmishers and began a fierce at-
tack on pigs, poultry and sheep; but the great event of the day
was in a sheep pasture of about five acres.

Here a complete line was formed that steadily drove the
sheep into one corner (at the same time a young lady of sixteen
or seventeen was charging the rear briskly, and kept up a con-
tinuous fire of stones, chips, and other missiles that were handy),
but no attention was paid to her. Each man threw down his
gun and seized a mutton, some as many as two. Fifteen sheep
were captured. We loaded them into wagons and drove off.
We drove half a mile and camped for the night, and had consid-
erable more than half rations that night, but were not quite sat-
isfied; so we went back to where we got the sheep, and got all
the old gentleman's bee-gums, five or six in number.

After loading up with the forage in the morning, as we were
passing the place where the sheep and bee-gums were taken, the
old gentleman came out with blood in his eye, panting for re-
venge. He asked me who had charge of the train; of course I
was totally ignorant — knew nothing about it; but this did not
satisfy him. He said he would follow us to town and report us
to the commander of the Post. He accordingly mounted his
horse and started. This alarmed the boys a little, but it did not
last long. Some of the Thirty-sixth boys that were along with
us devised a plan to stop him.

They accordingly sent a few of their number ahead and
threw a picket line across the road. (It was rather risky busi-
ness, but they were up to anything.) He came up to the line and
was going to pass, but he was suddenly halted. He said he
must pass, he had his protection papers. They said it was no
use, they had positive orders to pass no one. He remonstrated
with them for about an hour, and finally gave it up and started
for home in a furious rage. After he was well out of sight, the

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 121

improvised picket line relieved itself and came in. The next
morning he came to town to look us up, but his search was fruit-
less— we looked too near alike to be recognized.

After leaving Chattanooga the enemy had been driven from
the opposite side of the river, so that our supplies could be trans-
ported by steamboat to Brown's Ferry, ten miles below Chatta-
nooga, and instead of bringing supplies we loaded up with the
surplus baggage that had come down from Murfreesboro. The
same we guarded back from Manchester the June follow-
ing. In coming back we followed the river, passing the narrows
where we had been so molested by the enemy's sharpshooters.

After withdrawing to the inner line of works our supply of
fuel was very short, and we suffered considerable for want of it.
Everything in the shape of wood was used up. On the south
side of the river even the stumps were dug up by the roots to
eke out our scanty supply, and we had to depend on getting it
from the north side, which could only be got in limited quan-
tities, on account of the poor condition of teams.

About October 3d, Generals McCook and Crittenden were
relieved from the command of the Twentieth and Twenty-first
corps and ordered to report at Indianapolis, where they were
submitted to an investigation by a military commission. What
the result was is not satisfactorily known. Suffice it to say,
that no matter what the charges or findings were, they will al-
ways stand above reproach in the minds of the men they led at
Champion Hill, at Stone River, and over the plains and mount-
ains to and through that most desperate struggle in the thickets
along the Chickamauga. At once these two corps were consoli-
dated, becoming the Fourth, with Gen. Gordon Granger its com-
mander.

In the new organization we were brigaded with the Thirty-
sixth, Forty-fourth, Seventy-third and Eighty-eighth Illinois,
Second and Fifteenth Missouri, Twenty-second Indiana and
Twenty-fourth Wisconsin, together with the Seventy-fourth Illi-
nois, forming the first brigade, second division, fourth army
corps; and in this organization, with some changes of regiments
and commanding officers, we remained during the remainder of
our term of service. Col. Frank Sherman, of the Eighty-eighth,
was our brigade commander, and that general of generals, P. H.
Sheridan, was our division commander.

122 FOURTH REUNION OF THE

About this time the sad and solemn event, the execution of
two deserters of our brigade, was consummated, of which an ex-
cellent account is given by Lieut. Holland in the first pamphlet
containing the proceedings of our first reunion.

Following the removal of McCook, Crittenden, Negley and
others, came the removal of Gen. Rosecrans. Gen. Garfield,
his chief of staff, having received a nomination, and finally elec-
tion to congress, had already left us. We received the touch-
ing farewell order of Gen. Rosecrans on the 19th, and on the
21st Gen. George H. Thomas took command of the Army of the
Cumberland, as it afterward proved, remaining at the head
until the close of the war. During this time the authorities at
Washington had awakened to a realizing sense of the import-
ance of Chattanooga, and had determined to reinforce the army
here, and hold it if possible.

To this end, two corps, the Twelfth, under Gen. Howard,
and Eleventh, under Gen. Hooker, had been sent from the Army
of the Potomac, and began arriving at Bridgeport about October
10th. Hooker crossed the south side of the river at Bridgeport,
advancing toward Wauhatchie, near the western base of Look,
out Mountain, while Howard moved up by the way of Jasper*
on the northern side of the river.

Gen. Grant arrived on the 23d of October, and was soon
followed by a considerable portion of the Army of the Tennessee>
under Gen. Sherman, from Vicksburg and vicinity. On the
night of October 27th, Brown's Ferry was captured by the com-
mand of Gen. Hazen, which had dropped down the river in boats
unperceived by the enemy on the banks near Lookout Mountain.
This established a short route across Moccasin Point to the
command of Gen. Hooker at Wauhatchie, as well as clearing
the enemy from the south bank of the river to Bridgeport, thus
reducing the haul by wagons more than half.

Gen. Grant, in his article on Chattanooga, says: "That from
this time (the opening of the cracker line) the army was placed
on full rations." This is certainly a mistake so far as we are
concerned. We at no time received full rations after the in
vestment of Chattanooga by Bragg's army until our return to
Louden, about January 27th, 1864.

I remember a story the boys told of a member of the regi-
ment, who, as we emerged from the timber in the final assault of

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 123

Mission Ridge, looked sadly across those smooth meadows and
up the heights, whose crest was a perfect volcano of fire and iron
hail, showering upon us, then looked sadly and seriously around
for a moment, then with the remark, "Oh, h — 1, boys, there is
no use to try that on an empty stomach," turned back into the
woods, and complacently watched the rest make the trial.

The clothing supply was also extremely short at this time,
many of the soldiers having but articles of clothing upon their
person, except coat and pants, and those more or less tattered.

Rations were distributed on the Ridge the night of the 25th,
with the understanding that it was a sort of treat, (something
like the folks at home would give the children a piece of pie be-
tween meals for good conduct), and were afterwards surprised
that they should be counted out of their three days' rations with
which we were to be supplied for the march to Knoxville, thus
leaving us to start out on that trip with slender haversacks.

However, from the occupation of Brown's Ferry prepara-
tions went rapidly forward, and to the most casual observer it
was plain that a determined effort would soon be made to get
rid of our unpleasant neighbors. While there was no great ac-
tivity in our camps, yet every order that reached us pointed to
the fact that we would soon be wanted.

An extra amount of ammunition was distributed, guns were
put in order, pickets increased, and a little before noon of Mon-
day, November 23rd, orderlies and staff officers might have been
seen dashing about through the various camps in our vicinity.
The drums beat, the bugles blew the "fall in." calls, company
and regimental officers appeared among the men with but one
sentence upon their lips, "fall in, men; fall in at once." In a
moment we were ready, the lines were formed, and we moved
out upon the plain, south-east of the city. After getting out
perhaps a mile from our entrenchments, the lines of battle were
formed, our division fronting the south-east, in the direction of
Rossville. In this way we moved to just beyond our old picket
lines, which were perhaps one and a half or one and three-quar-
ter miles from our entrenched camp.

During the afternoon and evening some skirmishing took
place, and a few of the enemy's pickets were captured by our
skirmishers. As other divisions took their assigned places in
the line of battle, our division gave way to the left, thus turning

124 FOURTH REUNION OF THE

our front nearly due east, or directly toward Mission Ridge.
Early in the morning of the 24th, the Seventy-fourth occupied
the south-east slope of the knoll, now the center of the national
cemetery, and remained in this position until ordered forward
upon the final assault. During the 24th and morning of the
25th, we had a fine view of the battle above the clouds as Hook-
er's men swept around the end of Lookout to our left. Sherman
was not idle, and the thunders of his guns told how determined
was the resistance which he met. The night of the 24th became
misty and dark at an early hour, leaving the battle on Lookout,
as far as we could see, undecided.

The morning of the 25th was bright and clear, and all eyes
were turned eagerly toward the point of Lookout, hoping to see
the stars and stripes floating there. I have it from comrade
Black that just before sunrise he went up to the knoll to get a
better view of things on the mountain, and while there, just as
the sun rose, an, officer, accompanied by a single orderly, rode
up, coming apparently from Chattanooga, he immediately took
out his field glass and began to scan the mountain. In a moment
I asked him if that was surely the Union flag we could see on
the point, he replied, without looking at me, "it certainly is,
sir." Just then the sun shone out bright and clear, and every
one could see, without the aid of a glass, the broad stripes and
bright stars as they floated in the mountain breeze. Cheer upon
cheer went up — I believe prouder, louder and more triumphant
than this continent had ever heard before.

The stolid, pre-occupied face of the officer who had first
made the announcement while looking through his glasses, was
moved to considerable animation by the cheering of the troops.
Meanwhile staff officers began to arrive, when the officer put up
his glass. Writing a dispatch upon the pommel of his saddle, he
handed it to one of them, saying, "take this to Gen. Howard
with my compliments." I then surmised that the officer must
be Gen. Grant, which was confirmed by asking a staff officer close

by.

During the morning of the 25th, the battle on the north end
of Mission Ridge, where Sherman's command was engaged, be-
came fiercer every moment. From our position, we could see an
almost continuous stream of the enemy's troops marching north-
ward upon the Ridge. Meanwhile Hooker was making his way

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 125

slowly across the valley toward Rossville, while we remained
stationary, hour after hour, expecting every moment to be called
into action. About 2:00 o'clock the order came; the lines form-
ed, and we moved out a short distance in front, there to await
the signal to move forward to the Ridge.

About 3:00 o'clock Gen. Sheridan appeared in sight a short
distance to our left, and in a moment the orders were given and
repeated to every regiment to move forward. Our brigade was
formed in three lines, of three regiments front, the Seventy-fourth
occupying the left of the rear line. We had advanced scarcely
a dozen rods when the signal was fired from Orchard Knob, and
consisted of nine guns fired in threes, that is, each three fired
rapidly with a little space between. At the signal we moved
forward rapidly, until within forty rods of the eastern edge of the
timber which we were then passing through.

At this point we were moved by the right flank, which
brought us out into the open field, of just the width of our brig-
ade. When nicely out in the opening we were moved by the left
flank directly forward, at the double quick, across the smooth
meadow to the base of the Ridge.

This movement to the right brought our entire brigade out
into the open ground, a few minutes before the troops upon
either to right or left of us, and drew upon us the concentrated
fire of perhaps a dozen batteries. With fixed bayonets and lusty
cheers we charged rapidly forward, finding that the more we
hastened forward the less danger from the enemy's shells, as
they did not depress their guns enough, and to a great extent
overshot us in crossing the meadow. I have always believed
that this fact gave us the lead in the race which we maintained
to the end. The terrific fire of the enemy's artillery was such as
to be not easily effaced from memory.

Gen. Grant admits he " never saw anything like it elsewhere,"
yet, he adds, "it did but little harm." To the harm part, will
say that the troops of our division, 1128 men and 172 officers
killed and wounded within an hour proves it to have been as
destructive as we could wish for.

While on this subject let me call your attention to the fact
that out of an army of fourteen or fifteen divisions the total loss
was five thousand, while Sheridan's division alone loses thirteen
hundred, or one-fourth of their whole number. I have never

126 FOURTH REUNION OF THE

learned the loss of Wood's division of our corps, but supposing
it to have been the same as ours — assuming this to be correct —
we find that the two divisions of the Fourth corps lost fifty-two per
cent, of the loss of the entire army.

As before stated, the rapidity with which the Confederates
served their artillery was truly marvelous, and had they been
firing at us from a level, instead of from the top of the Ridge,
it could mean nothing but annihilation. The Twenty-second
Indiana occupied the line directly in front of us, and just as we
got well started in the open ground, a sergeant of Co. B, well
known to many of us, (name now forgotten) was struck in the
head by a cannon shot, the headless trunk falling at our feet.

As we approached the first line at the base of the Ridge, a
part of the occupants fled up the hill, others tumbled over to our
side of the works. It was amusing to see the rebs come tumb-
ling down the hill after being taken prisoners — they came crawl-
ing on their hands and knees, sometimes their knapsacks flying
over their heads. One chap held up his meal bag over the top
of a log for a flag of truce, to let us know that he had surrender-
ed. Some of the prisoners intimated that we would "catch
h-11 a little further up, " with some truth too. The ground being
so smooth over which we passed, that we were able to maintain
almost perfect lines, each regiment holding its relative position
in the line; thus it was that a part of the advanced line or lines
reached the rifle pits in advance of us, and took shelter therein
at this moment, and before we of the Seventy-fourth had reached
the ditch.

Gen. Sheridan rode down the line from the left, and by or-
der and entreaty, and by example of personal courage never sur-
passed upon any battle field, carried the men forward over the
works and on to that greatest victory and effort of our lives.

Of course we do not know what orders may have been issued
to corps, division and brigade commanders, but we do know
positively that at this point Gen. Sheridan, without a moment's
hesitation or faltering, by voice, by manner, by gesture, urged
the men forward. No time then for red-tape, to send orders by
way of brigade commanders, he appealed directly to the men in
the rank, and he did not appeal in vain. Under the influence
of that voice, inspired by the magnetism and courage of the man,
there was not a soldier but would have followed him even to death.

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 127

From this point to the top the ground was steep and rug-
ged, a greater part of the timber with which the side of the Ridge
had been covered, had been cut down, and the logs, many of
them at least, still lay where they fell. While the wreck hinder-
ed us, it also afforded considerable shelter from the terrific storm
of canister which the enemy was hurling at us. After beginning
the ascent of the Ridge, the various lines became completely in-
termingled, forming a broad irregular line of considerable width.
The various regimental flags of the brigade were carried well to
the front, and slowly moving forward were always the rallying
point for the troops as they charged up to the summit of the
Ridge. The colors being carried well in advance, the bearers
and color guards were fearfully exposed to the enemy's sharp-
shooters. Thus it was we lost so heavily near the colors.

Our flag was a new and beautiful one, recently presented to
us by the patriotic ladies of Rockford, and here carried for the
first time — the brightest and most conspicuous object among all
the Federal troops. It was carried by Sergeant Charles Allen,
of Co. E, who was severely wounded ere he gained many rods
from the foot of the Ridge. It was next taken by Alba Miller, of
Co. C, the regimental bugler, who was shortly after shot through
the shoulder, and resigned it into the hands of that noble soldier,
Samuel Campton, of Co. D. By him it was carried forward to
within a few yards of the crest, when he fell, shot through the
body, dying almost instantly.

Here the flag was instantly grasped by Corporal F. Hen-
sey, of Co. I, and in a. moment placed upon the Confederate
works on the crest of the Ridge. So far as personal knowledge
goes, we cannot say positively that it was the first one there,
but can say positively that when comrade Campton fell the flag
of the Seventy-fourth was conspicuously in advance of any colors
in our immediate vicinity. Just to our left the colors of the
Twenty-fourth Wisconsin was coming well up, while on our
right were two flags but little below, which we afterward learned
belonged to the Forty-fourth and Eighty-eighth Illinois.

Having been wounded myself before reaching the crest of the
Ridge, I let Sergeant Black describe what he saw there. He
says, about this time, turning my attention to what was going on
in front, I discovered a group of Federal soldiers near the earth-
works just to my left, and but a few steps south of the battery

128 FOURTH REUNION OF THE

»

near Gen. Bragg's headquarters. Among them were some of
the members of our regiment. I attempted to reach them, but
before I got to them an officer and several of the men sprang up-
on and over the works, thus opening the way for those to their
right and left, who at once began to pass through the gap made
in the Confederate line. At this instant the enemy became panic
stricken and abandoned the lines as fast as they could get away,
followed instantly by the Federals.

In the officer who so gallantly led the men at the spot of
which I speak, I recognized Capt. Leffingwell, of Co. A. It is
claimed by several regiments of Wood's division that they placed
the first flag upon Mission Ridge, they being to our left and still
fighting after we captured the battery at Bragg's headquarters,
and we were called to fall in line for the purpose of swinging
northward upon the Ridge, thus flanking those who still remain-
ed in line fighting the Federals ascending the Ridge.

However, before we could reform our line, that part of the
enemy's line gave away. We could see them as they left the
ditch, and our men came pouring over after them. Calls were
sounded, and the men began to form on their respective colors.
About this time Gen. Sheridan came riding up from the left, ac-
companied by several members of his staff. Reaching us he
halted and enquired, "to what regiment does that new flag be-
long?" The answer came, "Seventy-fourth Illinois," when he
replied, "that was the first flag on the ridge." Turning to a
staff officer, with whom he had been in animated conversation as
they came up, he said, with a toss of the head to the left, "those
fellows over there may say what they damn please, this was the
first flag up. " There were perhaps thirty or forty members of
the Seventy-fourth present when the foregoing occurred, and
doubtless there are others who remember it as well as myself.

After pursuing a short distance beyond the Ridge we went
into camp for the night. It was related to me by some of our
boys that were there, and talked with the women that lived in
the house in which Bragg had his headquarters, that Bragg was
at the house in front of our brigade, and they told him we were
coming, he said, "Let them come, they can never reach the
top." But after we got half way up he became alarmed, and
paced the house to and fro with clasped hands. He then sud-
denly mounted his horse and rode away. I saw the colonel com-

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 129

manding the brigade in our front, as the boys were leading him
back as a prisoner.

Col. Marsh, of our regiment, was wounded twice, and his
horse shot from under him. Sixty-four pieces of cannon with
their caissons, and an immense amount of small arms and many
prisoners were captured. It was indeed a glorious victory, and
gave fresh courage and hope for the Union cause. H. V. Boyn-
ton in the United Service Magazine, says: "Of the few noted
spectacular battles of the war, the three days' fight at Chatta-
nooga was unquestionably its most remarkable military pageant."

It is doubtful whether modern military history portrays a
scene where the grand proportions, as well as the minor move-
ments of extended battle, were so clearly presented to view.
Malvern Hill, Antietam, Burnside's attack on Fredricksburg,
and the third day at Gettysburg, were each fields where the eye
at times took in a large portion of the forces engaged, their prin-
cipal movements and their fierce contests.

But at Chattanooga a three days' battle was enacted by
three Union armies in a vast amphitheatre, and upon the slopes
of the mountains and hills which surrounded it, where every
movement on plain and upland was clearly defined to the eyes
of the overlooking thousands of contending hosts.

The colonel of the Twenty-fourth Mississippi says this of the
charge of the Army of the Cumberland against Mission Ridge —
after describing how his brigade was driven by the Federal
troops from the northern slope of Lookout, they were sent to
their extreme right, or northern end of Mission Ridge, where
Sherman was advancing. After a vivid description of Sherman's
attack and repulse, he says: "In the meanwhile the sun came out
clear and cloudless, I saw the main body of the Federal army
moving out from Chattanooga in columns by divisions. I am
not sure, but there must have been 60,000 men. None of the of-
ficers were mounted; they moved in perfect order at double
quick time on our left, or left center, and few men now living
have ever witnessed such a panorama. Our batteries were not
massed as in the morning, but each fired from its station in the
brigade or division to which it was attached, and, as far as I
could judge, made little or no impression on the advancing en-
emy.

Our brigade was moved at double quick from right to left,

130 FOURTH REUNION OF THE

and stationed in a deep indenture in Mission Ridge, where a
public road crossed it. We were here subjected to a heavy fire
from sharpshooters with long range rifles. Almost every man's
head that was raised above the breastworks was hit. Strangely
and curiously enough our first line of battle was formed behind
a little insignificant breastwork at the foot of the mountain. The
magnificent columns of Federals swept over it like frost work.

Under a galling and destructive fire the Federal army
climbed up the steep side of the mountain. 1 thought they could
never reach the summit, but a short time before night set in I
had the bitter mortification of seeing our line, about one hundred
and fifty or two hundred yards to the left of our brigade, give
way and run in confusion. I heard the triumphant shout of the
Federals as they placed their colors on the Ridge.

The next morning after the battle we marched six miles and
were relieved by the Eleventh A. C. and moved back to our old
camp at Chattanooga. Remained until 3:00 p. m. of the 28th,
when we received marching orders, and that night camped eight
miles up the river. The 29th we marched fourteen miles
and went into camp at Harrison's Cross Roads. The
30th started at 5:00 a. m., and that day passed through
Georgetown and through to the landing on the Hiawasa river;
there crossed the river in small boats and went into camp. De-
cember 1st marched to Decatur, thirteen miles; the 2nd, moved
sixteen miles, and camped in the valley. December 3rd; march-
ed ten miles to Philadelphia; took dinner and moved seven miles
to Robin's Mills. The 6th, marched to Marville, twelve miles.
The 7th, moved four miles to Rockford, and crossed the river;
then pushed on to Knoxville, and remained there that night.
The 8th, moved our camp to the timber, and remained there
until the morning of the 12th; that day marched eighteen miles.
The 13th, moved to Keen's Mills, four miles. The next two
days, sent out foraging parties for wheat and corn to grind at the
mills. December 16th we loaded a boat with flour and meal for
Knoxville. Left the mills at one p. m., and marched towards
Knoxville. The 17th, marched at daybreak for Knoxville, where
we joined our brigade, the Twenty-fourth. Then remained on
duty at Knoxville, while the rest of the brigade were sent to
Strawberry Plain, some distance above Knoxville.

Then the regiments of the brigade that enlisted in 1861

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 131

veteraned, and went home on veteran's furlough. December
. 29th a detail was made from companies C, D and F, to guard
prisoners to Louden. On the 8th day of January, 1864, the regi-
ment was called upon to witness the execution of a Confederate
spy, which took place at 11:30 a. m.

About this time the various detachments of the division that
had been left at Chattanooga rejoined their own commands, then
stationed in and in the vicinity of Knoxville. We brought along
with us the surplus baggage that had been left at Chattanooga
when the division left for Knoxville.

Gen. Wheeler of the Confederate cavalry, hearing that a
large wagon train was on the way from Chattanooga to Knox-
ville, guarded by the convalescents that had been left at Chatta-
nooga, thought it a good opportunity to gobble it while cross-
ing the Hiawasa at Charleston.

He made the attempt, dismounting his men about two miles
up the valley east of Charleston. He moved down, expecting
an easy victory; but Col. Leibold, of the Second Missouri, who
was in command of the detachment, hastily formed them into line,
who, together with the Fifty-first Indiana, Col. Straight's regi-
ment of five or six hundred men, made a formidable army, and
charged rapidly against Wheeler's advancing columns, who
seemed to be taken totally by surprise, broke and run, fleeing up
the valley to where their horses were left.

At this instant a small detachment of Federal cavalry that
was stationed at Charleston to guard the crossing, rushed in
among the fleeing foe, killing and wounding a number, and cap-
turing about one hundred and fifty prisoners. My opinion of
the cavalry took a very favorable turn after that event.

On the 10th of January, 1864, a large detachment of our
regiment, under the command of Lieut. Beatson, of Co. D, was
again sent to Louden with prisoners who had been captured a
few days before near Strawberry Plains. Among the number was
Gen. Vance, of North Carolina. At the stations along the way
they were supplied with food and hot coffee by the citizens, which
they seemed to appreciate.

On our return the train was loaded with commissary stores
for the troops at Strawberry Plains. By a wonderful coincidence,
in passing our camp at Fort Saunders in the evening, several
pounds of sugar and flour accidentally rolled off the cars. As it

132 FOURTH REUNION OF THE

was quite a distance from the depot, we thought it too much work
to take them there, so we took Care of them ourselves, and it was
noticeable that we all had full rations after that.

Our camp at Knoxville was in Fort Saunders, where Gen.
Longstreet made such a furious assault a few weeks before; the
marks of the awful contest were still plainly visible. Their dead
were hastily buried in their shallow rifle pits, and many of their
feet and hands were protruding above the ground.

The regiment remained in Knoxville working on the fortifi-
cations and doing garrison duty until the 29th of January, 1864,
when we moved to Louden on January 30th. February 2nd we
had company and regimental drill, the first we had since leaving
Winchester the August previous.

About the 4th, the rest of the brigade came back from Kings-
ton and went into camp at Louden. We expected to join them,
but Gen. Sheridan sent an order for us to go to Johnson's Mill
for the purpose of protecting the Union citizens from bushwhack-
ers,- and guerrillas were said to be numerous in that part of the
country. The mill was thirteen miles south of Louden. On
the way down we drove in several beef cattle for our own use.
Foraging parties went out nearly every day for something to eat.
The first day they went out they brought back with them the fol-
lowing array of eatables: chickens, turkeys, hams, onions, beans,
potatoes, dried apples, sorghum syrup, (over a barrel) tobacco,
candles, soap and things too numerous to mention. The syrup
was brought in and issued with the other rations to the regiment.
Company H was detailed to guard and run the mill.

Here we got the first full rations issued since leaving Stev-
enson, Alabama, last summer. We camped in a grove of small
pines, and, as usual, built ourselves log houses. We also cramp-
ed on three or four thousand feet of lumber, and made bunks,
tables, and all the other etceteras of civilized life, not forgetting
floors.

' My correspondence says: "At this time we were having the
finest kind of a time, and some of the boys have been out and
report good-looking Union girls plenty — weather fine."

We remained here about two weeks, and one morning early
the officer looking mysterious, as if some danger threatened,
broke camp and marched hurriedly back to Louden. We after-
ward learned that we were in danger of being attacked by some

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 133

Confederate cavalry that were raiding Blount county, just across
the Little Tennessee river.

From our camp they succeeded in capturing four of our
regiment that were detailed to guard wheat at Niles Ferry. The
men captured were one each from companies F, H, I and K.
Harvey Kellogg, of Co. C was on the west side of the river and
made his escape. It was reported the men captured held out
two hours, being in a house, and wounded several of the attack-
*ng party.

We remained in Louden until February 23rd, when we were
sent out to guard a ford on the Little Tennessee river, known as
Davis Ford, and noted as being the place where Longstreet
crossed on his march to Knoxville. He made a bridge at the
ford by gathering all the farm wagons in the vicinity, stringing
them across, and putting planks on them for his troops to cross
on. The ford was seven miles from Louden and five from Mor-
gantown.

A few of the boys got passes every day, crossed the river
and went out into what was called the Knobs, passing through
the little village of Eunica, in search of something to eat. We
used to get our dinner at the farm houses, and some eggs, for
which we always paid, dinner thirty and eggs twenty-five cents
a dozen. The people were extremely poor, having been foraged
over by both armies. Their houses, like themselves, were poor.
It was nothing uncommon to see houses with cracks in them wide
enough to throw a good sized cat through. The citizens would
bring in pies and cakes to sell. A woman came in with some
cakes one day and was selling them two for a quarter or one for
a dime— the boys generally bought one at a time. A short dis-
tance from camp lived a young lady that had been wooed, won
and married by one of Longstreet' s men in the two days they
were here crossing the river; he probably belonged to the cav-
alry.

Captain Barker of Co. F, took about one hundred and fifty
men one night a mile or two from camp, surrounded and cap-
tured a Union bushwhacker by the name of Duncan, brought
him to camp, kept him a few days, then let him go. At this
time, March 30th, we got word that Sheridan had been taken
from us and transferred to the army of the Potomac, whose loss
we very much regretted, as he had the fullest confidence of the

134 FOURTH REUNION OF THE

division. Gen. Wagner, of the Third brigade, took command
of the division.

On the 29th, companies B and K were ordered out on a
three days' scout to try and capture some guerrillas that had been
hovering in that vicinity, but after going as far as Eunica they
were ordered back. On the morning of the 31st we packed up
and prepared to march to Louden, which we reached about noon,
and went into camp on the railroad about a quarter of a mile west
of town. There was not a stick of wood anywhere near, but we
went to work as usual and soon had good houses up. We drew
plenty of rations, with plenty of good soft bread from the post
bakery.

While camped here the ten new Indiana regiments passed
through on their way to join the Twenty-third A. C., to which
they were assigned. They were the shabbiest looking troops I
ever saw, old and tottering gray-headed men and small spindling
boys; did some good fighting in Hovey's division, Twenty-third
corps, at Resaca. While here the Third brigade, Twenty-fourth
Wisconsin and ourselves had a grand review. We were review-
ed by Gen. Howard, the new corps commander. He was from
the eastern army, and formerly commanded the Eleventh corps.

I forgot to say that when the new Indianians were passing
through here with knapsacks almost ready to burst, something
like ours were when we left Louisville, we took compassion on
them, just like the Twenty-second Indianians did on us, and re-
lieved them of a share of their burden.

About the middle of April we moved to Columbus, Tennes-
see, which was the preliminary move in the construction of
troops for the great campaign of 1864. Here we remained about
two weeks, guarding fords and other necessary duty. On Sun-
day, the first day of May, at 11:00 a. m., we started to join our
command ; marched four miles further, and camped for the night.
Marched four miles and crossed the Hiawasa at Boyd's ferry, at
the junction of Oconee river; went five miles farther and camped
for the night. The Second moved twelve miles to Cleveland and
rejoined the brigade. May 3rd, moved at noon and marched
into Georgia, and joined the main army at Catusa Springs, and
next morning started on the great Atlanta campaign, where I
leave you.

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 135

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL JAMES B. KERR.

A MEMORIAL ON THE LIFE, SERVICE AND DEATH OF LIEUTENANT-
COLONEL JAMES B. KERR.

BY H. V. FREEMAN.

Comrades of the Seventy-fourth Regiment: As chairman of the
committee appointed at the last reunion to present a memorial of
our late Lieut-Colonel James B. Kerr, who died a prisoner in
Atlanta, of wounds received at Kenesaw Mountain, I cannot do
better than to quote liberally from communications received from
his relatives and several of our members. There are doubtless
other facts and interesting reminiscences which many of you can
supply.

The communication kindly sent to me by his brother, Prof.
Alexander Kerr, of Madison University, gives so full and com-
plete a history of the early life of Lieut.-Col. Kerr, down to the
organization of the Seventy-fourth, that you will be glad to have
me present it entire, very nearly in the language of the author.
Prof. Kerr writes as follows:

"James Bremer Kerr, the fifth and youngest son of George
and Helen Kerr, was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, June 30th,
1834. The following year his parents emigrated to Canada and
lived for three years at Moulinette, near Cornwall. They then
removed to Lockport, Illinois, and in 1841, when James was
seven years old, they made a permanent home for the family on
a farm near Rockford, Illinois, where his boyhood and youth
were passed. The location was in many respects fortunate; the
soil was reasonably productive; the moderate undulations of sur-
face provided natural drainage, so that the settlers were not
shaken with ague or scorched with fever. Inheriting a good
constitution, James grew up with a robust frame and vigorous
health.

There were no celebrities in the neighborhood, but there
were a few quiet people who brought with them traditions favor-
able to intelligence and education. The result was a quality of
instruction in the schools which stimulated the bright boys, and
gave them aspirations and ambitions. James was one of those
boys, and while he was conscientious in the performance of the
duties he owed his parents, he soon lost interest in the routine
work of the farm and became a student of books. He engaged

136 FOURTH REUNION OF THE

early in debates and other literary exercises, which were partici-
pated in not only by the boys of the neighborhood but by intel-
ligent men of more mature minds, who often came long distances
over the prairies to make the schoolhouse resound with eloquence,
which, if it had not the strength and polish of Webster, had at
least the freshness and fire of nature.

He early formed the habit of considering political, social,
ethical and religious questions as his own mind and conscience
directed, rather than in obedience to tests established by authors
and traditions. Thus he furnished another proof of the state-
ment that it is absurd in this century to expect a boy to believe
exactly what his grandfather believed before him. But the free-
dom of opinion which he claimed as a God-given right never be-
trayed him into showing a want of reverence for sacred things,
or into making extravagant and foolish assertions about the mys-
teries of human destiny. Although a diligent student, James
was not a recluse. He had the happy faculty of rapid acquisi-
tion. He quickly made himself master of the contents of a book,
and was ready for a gallop over the prairie to see friends, of
whom he had a constantly enlarging circle. Naturally of a
jovial disposition, and possessed of an unselfish nature, he was
a favorite in all social gatherings with young and old alike. Thus
in youth he developed a manly and resolute character, and gain-
ed a knowledge of human nature as well as of literature. These,
supplemented by superb physical endurance, contributed to the
success of a life, which, short as it was, cannot be called incom-
plete. His years till early manhood passed swiftly and happily,
his only deep sorrow being the loss of his brother Charles, who,
while a member of the freshman class of Beloit college, died sud-
denly of brain fever, March, 1853.

In January, 1857, James went to Houston, Heard county,
Georgia, where his brother, Alexander Kerr, now professor in
the University of Wisconsin, had charge of a classical school.
This was by far the best and most satisfactory year of his student
life. He made a wise use of his opportunities, not neglectting
Greek, Latin or mathematics, but learning meanwhile among the
pine woods, the hills and valleys, all about the social life of in-
teresting types nearly as, primitive as the Homeric man. And
on 'court days' and other public occasions when a crowd gather-
ed at the 'Corners,' he was an interested and eager spectator of

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 137

the methods by which neighborhood feuds and unforeseen quar-
rels would work themselves out when the blood of the young
Georgians was on fire with home-made whiskey or peach brandy.
At such times he occasionally heard the crack of a pistol, or saw
the gleam of a bowie-knife, and he, with others, would rush to
look at a poor fellow lying in a pool of blood.

From such scenes, by the evidence of his own eyes, he very
naturally came to the conclusion that about the cheapest com-
modity in that region was human life. In fa-ct, he himself once
or twice narrowly escaped assassination from incautiously engag-
ing too freely in conversation with men, who were crazed with
drink or passion. Yet the young northerner found no lack of
good society. He soon had the freedom of the best houses in a
well-to-do community. The hospitality of the intelligent
Georgian planter had to be enjoyed to be understood. Any mere
description is inadequate to do it justice. It was unselfish, spon-
taneous, bestowed like the sunlight and rain, without thought or
expectation of favors to be reciprocated.

The young men, with the impulsiveness and frankness char-
acteristic to the section, at once gave him their confidence and
hearty good will, and showed him the best traits of Southern
character. The oracle and pride of the neighborhood was at
that time 'Ben Hill,' afterwards a member of the rebel cabinet,
and more recently United States Senator for Georgia. Hill's
residence was LaGrange, where he sometimes made a political
speech, and always swept everything before him by the power of
his eloquence. The boys of James' set all swore by Ben. Hill,
and since LaGrange was within easy reach, they made a point
of hearing him on all important occasions, and believed him to
be the greatest man in Georgia.

The boys were proud of Ben. Hill and of all that pertained
to him; proud of his religion; proud of his kneeling to receive
the sacrament at the altar of the Methodist church; proud of his
manly character; proud of his neat and prompt way of knocking
down on the spot a lawyer who insulted him in the court room;
and of the lordly fashion in which he instantly handed over the
fine of one hundred dollars which the judge imposed for disturb-
ing the court; proud of his stately mansion and his retinue of
slaves; but proudest of all of his reputation, which they believed
would soon be national.

138 FOURTH REUNION OF THE

These generous and impulsive young fellows did everything
in their powerto make the student'syear in Georgia enjoyable while
it lasted, and delightful to remember. And when the time at last
cameforhimto joinhiscomrades in the Seventy-fourth Illinois, the
thought was always a painfnl one that some day he might be
compelled to meet in deadly encounter friends whom he had
learned to love as brothers, with whom he had spent many a
happy hour in hunting excursions up and down the Chattahoo-
chee and its tributaries, not knowing that seven years later, only
a few miles distant from the red hills of his old hunting grounds,
he should give up his life and all that he held dear in this world,
at the bidding of his country.

At the beginning of the year 1858, James entered Beloit col-
lege, and pursued for several terms a special course preparatory
to the work of teaching and the profession of law. Literature
and politics had the greatest attraction for him at this period.
His college duties were faithfully performed; but the files of the
Congressional Globe were scanned with constant care that he might
understand the slavery discussion, perhaps the greatest contro-
versy of modern times.

He afterwards made an excellent record as a teacher in the
public schools of Winnebago county ; earned the reputation of
being a ready and effective extempore speaker, and was always
welcomed on the platform as a lecturer on literary and educa-
tional topics. In the presidential campaign of 1860, he took the
stump for Lincoln. The next two years were filled out with un-
remitting work as law student, teacher, lecturer, institute con-
ductor, and county superintendent of schools. These activities
served to occupy his mind until the civil war assumed such pro-
portions and magnitude that entering the service appeared to
him a duty imperative and irresistible. * *

In September, 1862, he was married to Miss Frances M.
Bradley, daughter of Dr. L. B. Bradley, of Roscoe, 111. He
had no children."

The above narrative brings us down to the time of the or-
ganization of the regiment, in August, 1862. It was an ever
memorable year. The call for 300,000 more, issued by Presi-
dent Lincoln, rang like a bugle over the North. It was respond-
ed to eagerly. Everywhere regiments were forming; and this
period which we now commemorate by our reunions is celebrated

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 139

in like manner by hundreds of other regiments and organizations
throughout every state of the loyal North. The popular song,
"We are coming, father Abraham, three hundred thousand
more," gave expression to that enthusiastic feeling with which
men everywhere responded to that call. Never can we forget,
while life shall last, the patriotic sentiment, the hopes, the fears,
the excitements of that glorious time. It still stirs the blood of
the soldier to recall the martial ardor of those younger days. In
every city and hamlet the sound of drum and fife could be heard,
inviting men to enlist for the preservation of the Union. On
village greens and in public halls the drilling of recruits was in
progress. The quick voice of command and sound of tramping
feet awoke the silent streets far into the night. Everywhere was
the gathering of men into companies, the going into camp, the
organization of battalions, regiments, all drills, and much of the
pomp and circumstance of glorious war without its hardships.
Lieutenant-Colonel Kerr was at this time county superintendent
of schools for Winnebago county, and he had been teaching in
the public schools at Roscoe. In the summer of 1862 he assist-
ed in raising a company of three months' men, who were employ-
ed in guarding the prisoners in Camp Douglas, Chicago. He
became first lieutenant of this company. The regiment, as I am
informed, was the Sixty-seventh Illinois. In this capacity it
served three months during the summer of 1862, and was mus-
tered out just previous to the organization of the Seventy-fourth.
Having thus had some military experience he became the cap-
tain of Co. E, in the Seventy-fourth, a^d upon the organization
of the regiment was elected and commissioned its lieutenant-
colonel. In the earlier part of the regimental history Col. Kerr
was second in command, except at those times when Col. Marsh,
by reason of ill health, was temporarily absent. But the drill-
ing of the regiment devolved almost entirely upon Lieut. -Col.
Kerr. He seemed to have a faculty in this direction, and readily
acquired the necessary knowledge. To him the regiment is
largely indebted for the efficiency it subsequently acquired in
battalion drill.

During the first year, Col. Kerr's military history is simply
that of the regiment. There are no special facts which stand out
prominently to be recorded with him personally. He was then
in command for short periods of time, never long enough to have

140 FOURTH REUNION OF THE

the full responsibility, which would otherwise have rested upon
him. But during this time he won the confidence of the regiment,
both in his ability and his courage. Indeed it has sometimes
been said that Col. Kerr's bravery occasionally touched the bor-
der of rashness. A letter from an old-time and intimate friend
speaks of him as follows:

He was a bright scholar, and as the old ladies in the dis-
trict used to remark, 'seemed to take to larnin' naterally.' As
a student he was not only industrious, but was impetuous. He
was as daring about attempting the mastery of questions beyond
his years as he afterwards was on the field of battle, in attempt-
ing to acco*mplish feats of bravery and courage which prudence
might not dictate. It was this trait of his character which led
to his capture on one occasion, and possibly it had something to
do with his death on another."

You will all remember the circumstances attending his cap-
ture. It was near Nashville, just before the battle of Stone
River. Lieutenant Holland, in his paper published in the ac-
count of our first reunion, gives details of this event. Lieutenant-
Colonel Kerr alone, leaving behind all his aides in pursuit of a
fleeing rebel officer, dashed into the midst of the enemy, and of
course was taken prisoner. He was not, therefore, with the
regiment at the time of the battle of Stone River, but rejoined
it subsequently at Murfreesboro, after having been exchanged.
In attack or pursuit, and even in running into danger, however
impetuous, Lieutenant-Colonel Kerr never lost his head. He
was always cool and self-possessed, and knew exactly what he
was doing.

In the march from Murfreesboro southward, during what is
known as the Tullahoma campaign, Lieutenant-Colonel Kerr
was part of the time in command of the regiment. I well re-
member an incident which occurred at Libertyville Gap. We
lay on the wooded slope of a hill overlooking a small valley, on
the other side of which the rebel line was posted upon the cor-
responding parallel range of hills.

Never shall I forget the contrast between the quiet picture
of that narrow valley, only a few hundred feet wide, and the
scenes of war surrounding it. From hill to hill, over the quiet
farm house and waving grain fields beneath, the storm of war
was raging. A high Virginia rail fence was just in front of our

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 141

position. On the other side of it, running down the slope of the
hill, were quite a number of dead rebels, who had been killed
when they had been driven from the position which we then oc-
cupied. One of our men had a disabled rifle. As the Lieuten-
ant-Colonel was standing near, he showed him the useless mus-
ket and asked him if he knew where he could get another. "He
did not," he said, ''unless you want to go out there and take
one of those dead rebel's guns." "Out there," meant over the
rail fence beyond the edge of the timber down on the slope of
the hillside, in plain view and in short range of the rebel skir-
mishers on the other side. The Lieutenant-Colonel said he
"would not order any man out there, but that he was at liberty
to go if he wanted to." I will add that Sergeant Allen, of Co. E,
afterward Lieutenant Allen, whose daring bravery caused him
subsequently to be shot almost to pieces, did venture out and
take a gun from beside one of those dead rebels. As he did so,
however, although he ran out and back very rapidly, a shower
of bullets rained about him, and it was a marvel to every one who
saw the performance that he got in alive.

We will all now agree, I think, from abundant experience,
that it is the business of a soldier never to expose himself in a
spirit of bravado, while always ready to expose himself under
any and all circumstances, where by so doing any useful object
can be attained.

One other incident occurring at this place, you wiM perhaps
be glad to recall in this connection. Some of you may remem-
ber that when we occupied the position to which I refer, and
which we held all the afternoon, we found upon the line behind
a tree a dead soldier, belonging, I think, to an Ohio regiment.
He was a young, fine looking fellow. His uniform and all his
equipments were scrupulously neat and clean. His gun, though
soiled with the smoke of firing, was bright and shining, thor-
oughly well kept. Everything about him denoted the thorough
going soldier; nothing slovenly; nothing untidy or unkempt.
He lay there dead, with a bullet through his breast. His hand-
some young face was turned up to the sky; but all about him
the ground was thickly strewn with the ends of cartridges, used
before the fatal bullet found him. Evidently he had died there
doing his duty like a man. I don't know whether anybody ob-
tained his name and address or not. But as I think over these

142 FOURTH REUNION OF THE

incidents now and then, I have often regretted that I did not
know the names and address of friends he left behind when he
went off to the war. I would like to tell them what those of us
who saw him as he lay there knew; — how bravely he had died;
and how nobly, as the evidences around him showed, he had
performed his duty to the last.

But I have delayed too long upon these incidents. After the
Tullahoma campaign we remained in Winchester, Lieutenant-
Colonel Kerr being still in command of the regiment. On the
march from Winchester to Stevenson, Alabama, over the mount-
ains, he still led us. No special incidents relating to his per-
sonal history occurred that I am aware of, until the battle of
Mission Ridge. At that battle Colonel Marsh was wounded, and
the command devolved upon Lieutenant-Colonel Kerr/

The following extract from a letter written to his wife after
the battle, gives in his own words, an account of the part he-
took in that engagement. It is dated Chattanooga, Tennessee,
November 27, 1863, and is as follows:

"You will have seen accounts of the terrible battle we have
had long before this reaches you. We were in the very thickest
of the fight. I can tell you about it if I ever live to get home,
but I can never write a description of it. Mission Ridge is over
a thousand feet high, and we had to charge across an open field
for half a mile and up that (the Ridge) under the fire of the en-
emy's guns; the whole distance from where we started being
over a mile, and we moved at the double quick most of the way.
Our regiment was in the fourth line when we started, but our
colors were the first on the Ridge. We passed over the other
lines at the first line of intrenchments at the foot of the Ridge.
When we got to the intrenchment our line hesitated, and the
color bearer seemed to falter. I shouted to him to go over. He
looked at me to see if I could be in earnest, for a perfect deluge
of shot was flying around us. I dashed up to him and told him
to give me the colors, when he sprang over like a deer. Honor
to the brave boy.

'Mac' (his horse) refused to go over the ditch, and I left
him there and pushed on with the boys. When I was about half
way up the hill I was struck by a ball which had hit some other
person, as the opening in the end of it was full of blood and
flesh. It struck me in the leg just below the knee, making it

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 143

perfectly numb for a few moments. I felt weak and sick; but
one of the boys came along soon and gave me a drink from his
canteen, and I pushed on and reached the top among the first.
Three of our colors bearers fell, one dead. All fell in the very
front, waving our bonnie flag in the face of the enemy.

The flag had fourteen bullet holes shot through it. It is no
use to try and enumerate narrow escapes, for the bullets rattled
like hail all the time, and the only wonder to me is how anyone
escaped. The enemy made a great mistake in shooting too high.
Most of their shots passed just over our heads. If they had
shot low enough nothing could have lived on that hill. I could
hear the canister "soughing" over my head like a flood of death,
but through it all we reached the top, and the enemy fled like
sheep. We captured a great many prisoners and nearly all
their cannon. It was glory enough for one day. We pushed
on two miles further that night, and the next day as far as Chick-
amauga creek.

There we were relieved by Palmer's corps, and moved back
to camp. I talked a little to the boys. We gave three cheers
for the flag and the cause, and then the boys gave three cheers
for your husband; and thus ended our first campaign under
Grant.

Wednesday night I lay out all night without blankets, and
we were allowed to build only small fires, and it was bitter cold.
Thursday I had nothing to eat until night. I could not help
thinking of the nice times you were probably having at your
Thanksgiving dinner. But your meal, however good it may
have been, was a meagre one compared with ours, for our feast
was a victory."

Lieutenant-Colonel Kerr commanded the regiment from that
time in the march to Knoxville, and during the campaign in East
Tennessee. Col. Marsh joined the regiment again early in
March, 1864, probably when it was at Davis Ford, on the Little
Tennessee river, and he remained with the regiment until it
reached Kingston, Georgia, May 19th, 1864. From Kingston
Col. Marsh was obliged to return to Lookout Mountain hospital,
temporarily, and Lieutenant-Colonel Kerr again took command.
He led the regiment at Dallas and New Hope, Georgia, May
25th to June 6th: at Lost Mountain June 16th; and in the diffi-
cult approaches to the main line at Kennesaw, from the 17th to

144 FOURTH REUNION OF THE

the 23rd of June. His leadership was distinguised by zeal, abil-
ity and courage. He was a competent commander. I am per-
mitted to quote the following from a letter to his wife, which is
dated Kingston, Georgia, May 20th, 1864.

"We are taking the first day's rest we have had for twenty
days'. We have been marching, watching or fighting all the time.
The enemy, after retreating from Dalton, took an intrenched po-
sition along the ridge of hills north of Resaca, here we attacked
them on May 14th, as I wrote you before. On the night of the
15th they again retreated, and again we started in pursuit, the,
rear guard skirmishing with us all the way. On Tuesday after-
noon they made a stand near Adair, and we fought them all the
afternoon. The regiment suffered pretty badly. We lost one
killed and thirty wounded. Our loss during the last week has
been four killed and fifty wounded.

On Tuesday's fight I ran across an open field to where the
men were within fifteen rods of the rebels, and at least fifty shots
were fired at me. I am of the opinion that they cannot hit me,
or rather that Providence protects me, for in every fight the bul-
lets have pattered round me like hail."

Sergeant Black, of Jessup, Iowa, has sent me his recollec-
tion of the brigade, division and corps organizations at that time,
and it may serve to refresh your memories. The Seventy-fourth
was in the first brigade, second division, fourth army corps. Gen.
Nathan Kimball, of Indiana, was the brigade commander. He
took charge at Kingston, May 21st, and remained with the brig-
ade until July 25th, when he was placed in command of the first
division of the fourth corps.

The second brigade of the division was under the command
of Gen. Wagner, and the third under Gen. Harker, of Ohio, a
West Pointer, and one of the most thorough soldiers in the Army
of the Cumberland — a man of fine appearance, and a thorough
going military air of business. He, too, became one of the victims
of the terrible slaughter at Kenesaw, being killed upon the rebel
earthworks at the head of his command. The division com-
mander was Gen. John Newton, of Virginia, until recently chief
engineer of the army, and well known as the engineer in charge
of the work of removing the obstructions at Hell Gate, be-
tween New York Harbor and Long Island Sound. He has
recently been placed on the retired list of the army at his own

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 145

request, and appointed commissioner of public works of New
York City.

The commander of the fourth army corps was Major-Gen-
eral O. O. Howard. I cannot do better than to give you in Ser-
geant Black's own words, his account of the final assault at Ken-
esaw Mountain. He writes as follows:

"This brings us down to our last position in front of Kene-
saw, from which was made that terrible assault that resulted in
his capture and death. The horrible scenes of that struggle are
still so vivid in my mind that I can scarcely write or think cool-
ly about it. Have always regarded it as murder pure and simple.
Am satisfied that there was no hope or even expectation in the
minds of those ordering the assault that we could accomplish
anything; and to sacrifice men under such circumstances seems
to me senseless, brutal and murderous. While I do not pretend
to military criticism, yet, as one of the proposed victims, I feel
that I have a right to express my convictions.

Here, upon the morning of June 27th, after much cannon-
ading and parading, and showing what manner of men we were,
(that is the brigade to which we belonged) we were ordered over
our earthworks to support the second brigade of our division
which was ordered to carry the rebel works in our front.

Those works were a matter of some fifty rods from our own,
the intervening space having been densely timbered, but a part
of the large timber had just been felled, while the smaller timber
had been lopped (cut partially off two and a half or three feet from
the ground) and tangled in every conceivable manner. About
midway between the lines, and running parallel with them, was
a moderate depression or ravine.

As if to make sure of the last man in our brigade, we were
formed in solid mass, and in this way were finally ordered for-
ward, when the Second brigade faltered and stopped at the ravine.
On we went, the various regimental commanders leading their
men personally (no higher officer being with us) and on foot.
We went quickly through and beyond the men of the Second
brigade, right up to the muzzles of the rebel guns, the men fall-
ing by scores at every step, so that when we reached the vicinity
of the works there were comparatively few men left to make the
final attempt. Near by upon the right, Harker's brigade, which
had started in concert with the Second, had moved directly up

146 FOURTH REUNION OF THE

to the works, (Gen. Harker being killed upon the works,} but
finding themselves unsupported by the Second, which had stop-
ped at the ravine, dare not push over, and laid down. Thus it
was when the decimated ranks of our brigade had reached the
works that some one gave the order 'lie down,' which was in-
stantly obeyed.

Among the foremost of the regimental officers leading their
men was Lieutenant-Colonel Kerr; he, with others, giving the
order to lie down. Lieutenant-Colonel Kerr was at this time, I
should say, thirty feet from the rebel works, finally taking shel-
ter behind a large chestnut tree near by, (some have placed the
distance nearer to the rebel works). Here he attempted to en-
courage and soothe the men by words of cheer, telling us we
would have help in a moment, when we would all dash over the
works together. We were well up in the notch of two angles,
and of course suffered an enfilading as well as a direct fire from
the enemy, who were perfectly secure behind their great earth-
work, with head logs, etc., etc.

A short distance to the left of Col. Kerr there was a battery
whose fire was continuous and murderous in the extreme. The
cannoniers using canister at that short range, killed and maimed
our fellows by the score at every discharge. Here we lay help-
less what seemed to me hours, but was afterwards ascertained to
be a matter of about twenty minutes. Under these circumstances,
you may be sure, it was not an easy thing for Lieutenant-Colonel
Kerr to maintain his coolness and self possession, and speak
words of sympathy and encouragement to the men about him.

Personally I was directly in rear of him and about twenty
feet distant, so that I was able to hear almost every word he
spoke. Directly in front of me, with my bundle upon which I
rested my breast, between his feet, lay Lieutenant Aleck Beattie,
of Co. C. After we had been in this position some time, Lieu-
tenant Beattie cried out to Lieutenant-Colonel Kerr, telling him
that he was hurt and asking what he should do. The Colonel
replied, 'get back if you can, Aleck, this is no place for you.'
Lieutenant Beattie made some remark in regard to the dangerous
character of the undertaking, when the Colonel again spoke to
him, saying, 'It is no more dangerous than staying; I would try
it anyway, Aleck.' Let me here say that I think (I believe I
may say that I positively know) that those were the last words

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 147

spoken to any individual member of the regiment by the Lieu-
tenant-Colonel. A minute later there seemed to come a lull in
the firing from the enemy, and shortly after a large force of them
sprang over the works, ordering all to surrender and get inside.
This was our chance: instinctively, it seemed, those who were
able to get upon their feet rose as one man and ran back.

Just as the rebels sprang out, Col. Kerr rose from a sitting
posture by the tree, and immediately fell back as though hurt.
As I turned and ran with the rest, I caught a momentary glance
of a rebel officer standing over him with a flashing blade. The
rest is easily told.

An Atlanta paper of an early date gave us the information
that among the prisoners taken at Kenesaw on the 27th, was
Lieutenant-Colonel J. B. Kerr, who was severely wounded.

Later, after the capture of Atlanta, some of the members of
the regiment, strolling through the cemetery, found a grave, the
head-board bearing this inscription: 'Col. J. B. Kerr, died in
prison hospital, July fourth.' '

Proceedings Fifth Reunion

September 4th, 1555, Rocfcford, Illinois

PRESENT 97.

BUSINESS MEETING.

Assembled at Grand Army Hall, Rockford, 111., Sept. 4,
1888, at 1:00 p.m. Marched to the fairgrounds under command
of comrade John Beatson. Called to order at fair grounds by
the senior Vice-President, J. S. Cowen.

Upon motion it was decided to hold the next reunion on the
last Wednesday in August, 1889.

Considerable discussion as to the place was had; but Ore-
gon was finally decided upon for the next meeting, owing to the
very cordial invitation and persuasive talk of the members of
Co. G.

Upon motion the following members were chosen officers
for the ensuing year:

JOSEPH HAWTHORNE, President.

VICE-PRESIDENTS.

Jas. A. Cowan Company A

Edward Wells " B

Robert Simpson " C

John Beatson " D

A. M. Blakesley " E

Levi Sanders •' F

John G. Waldie " G

Oscar Franklin " H

Geo. G. Cannon " I

H. B. Utter « K

JOHN MATMILLER, Secretary.

P, H. TALBOT, Treasurer.

150 FIFTH REUNION OF THE

Upon motion the following comrades of other regiments were
elected honorary members: Rev. G. R. Vanhorne, Edward Mum-
by and John Mitchell.

Article 2 of the constitution was amended so as to make the
wives of deceased comrades of the Seventy-fourth Illinois hon-
orary members.

The following comrades were appointed as a committee to
draft resolutions on deceased comrades, and report at the next
meeting: John M. Fraley, M. S. Parmele and Thos. W. Cole.

Deceased comrades were reported as follows: S. C. Lock-
wood, Co. H; John A. Harrell, Co. I; Jas. G. Luce. Co. D; W.
B. Anderson, Co. K; David Castner, Co. D.

The Vice-Presidents were made committee to gather data
with a view to making a complete roster of the regiment. Upon
motion adjourned.

After partaking of a bountiful dinner provided and served by
the ladies, the society was again called to order by the senior
Vice-President, J. S. Cowen.

Speeches were made by comrades Cowen and G. R. Van-
horne, and a paper read by John H. Sherratt on "Some correc-
tions of Grant's Memoirs as regards Gen. Geo. H. Thomas."

Upon motion, a vote of thanks was extended to the ladies of
Rockford for their work in connection with the reunion; to the
fair association for the use of its grounds; and to the Baptist so-
ciety for the use of its dining hall.

The exercises were concluded b)' a rousing camp fire in the
evening, at Grand Army Hall, participated in by the comrades
of other regiments. JOHN H. SHERRATT, Secretary.

SOME CORRECTIONS OF GRANT'S MEMOIRS AS RE-
GARDS GEN. GEO. H. THOMAS.

BY JOHN H. SHERRATT.
READ AT FIFTH REUNION, SEPT. 4, 1888.

Mr. President and Comrades of the Seventy-fourth Illinois:

When last we met in reunion we were fresh from the reading of
the Memoirs of Gen. Grant. In those Memoirs are several state-
ments reflecting upon the military reputatfon of Gen. George H.
Thomas; and I was requested to submit, at this meeting, a paper

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 151

with reference thereto. To defend the memory of Gen. Thomas is a
labor of love to every old soldier of the Army of the Cumberland;
and an invitation to such a service comes to us as a command.
He who led that army so often to victory, and never to defeat,
has long since been touched by the lips of everlasting silence;
but we, his surviving comrades, would speak for him; and for
his perfect vindication would refer to his record alone.

Grant and Thomas first met during the war at Shiloh, the
one in command of the Army of the Tennessee, the other in com-
mand of a division of the Army of the Ohio that came so oppor-
tunely on that hard fought field. A year and a half later, in Oc-
tober, 1863, they met again, this time at Chattanooga; one in
command of the military division of the Mississippi, a deserved
recognition of his matchless campaign of Vicksburg; the other
in command of the Army of the Cumberland that he had saved at
Chickamauga. A grave crisis demanded united council; and
the part borne by Gen. Thomas in those troublous times should
be read, not in the Memoirs of 1884, but in the official reports of
1863, written when all the facts were fresh. To those reports we
shall appeal.

In the Memoirs, Grant states that he arrived at Chattanoo-
ga October 23d, and that on the night of the 24th he issued or-
ders for the opening up the route to Bridgeport, a cracker line,
as the soldiers appropriately called it. The matter is a small one,
but he should have stated that orders for this identical move-
ment were issued ten days before. This is shown by a telegram
of October 23rd by C. A. Dana, assistant secretary of war, then
at Chattanooga, who states that "the pontoons are done for a
bridge across Lookout Valley," and complained that Hooker
waits at Bridgeport for his wagons, though ordered ten days be-
fore to occupy Racoon Mountain and Lookout Valley. It is also
shown by a dispatch from Grant himself, of October 26th, to
Halleck, wherein he says: "Gen. Thomas had also set on foot
before my arrival a plan for getting possession of the river from
a point below Lookout Mountain to Bridgeport. If successful,
and I think it will be. the question of supplies will be fully
settled." The movement was in fact conceived by Gen. Rose-
crans before he was relieved of command, and to him due credit
should have been given.

The cracker line being open and guarded by Hooker's men

152 FIFTH REUNION OF THE

from the Army of the Potomac, our position in Chattanooga was
secure. Starvation had been our chief menace, and the hopes
of the enemy faded as our commissary stores increased. Bragg,
recognizing now his inability to capture the place,' allowed Long-
street, with 15,000 men, to march away to the siege of Knoxville.
Then began a flood of telegrams from Stanton and Halleck at
Washington, to Grant at Chattanooga, urging him to relieve
Burnside and save East Tennessee. With this end in view,
Grant decided upon an immediate attack upon Bragg's position.
I read now from the Memoirs: "On the fourth of November
Longstreet left our front with 15,000 troops, besides Wheeler's
cavalry of 5,000 more, to go against Burnside. On the 7th, be-
fore Longstreet could possibly have reached Knoxville, I order-
ed Thomas peremptorily to attack the enemy's right, so as to
force the return of the troops that had gone up the valley. I
directed him to take mules, officers' horses, or animals wherever
he could get them, to move the necessary artillery, But he per-
sisted in the declaration that he could not see how he could pos-
sibly comply with the order." This order of November 7th was,
(I read from the order itself) "to attack on the northern end of
Missionary Ridge, and, when that was carried, to threaten and
attack, if possible, the enemy's communications between Cleve-
land and Dalton. " This meant, of course, a general engage-
ment. It was identical with the movement attempted eighteen
days later, when Sherman, with six divisions, failed to carry this
very point; and in the light of that experience who shall say that
Thomas was not right in his judgment as to this movement,
and in prevailing upon Grant to revoke his order that the army
was not saved from a great disaster? The revocation of this
order, according to a recent letter of Gen. W. F. Smith, came
about in this way. Upon its receipt, Thomas said to Gen. Smith,
his chief engineer: "If I attempt to carry out this order my army
will be terribly beaten. You must go and get the order revoked;"
and after a reconnoisance by them and Gen. Brannan, chief of
artillery, from a hill on the north bank of the Tennessee river,
opposite the mouth of the South Chickamauga creek, Smith re-
ported to Grant that in their judgment nothing could be done
till the arrival of Sherman.

That this conclusion commended itself to the military
judgment of Gen. Grant, is evinced by his official report made

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 153

at the time. In it he says: "Directions were given for the move-
ment against Missionary Ridge with a view to carrying it. * *
After a thorough reconnoisance of the ground, however, it was
deemed utterly impossible to make the move until Sherman
could get up, because of the inadequacy of our forces and the
condition of the animals then in Chattanooga."

Here, then, in Grant's official report, is no charge against
Thomas whatever: and the failure to attack does not rest alone
upon the want of animals to haul the guns, but upon the weight-
ier fact of the "inadequacy of our forces."

Coming to the 25th of November, that memorable day at
Missionary Ridge, when the rank and file of the Army of the
Cumberland distinguished itself forever, I read this from the
Memoirs: "His (Hooker) reaching Bragg's flank and extending
across it was to be the signal for Thomas' assault of the Ridge.
But Sherman's condition was getting so critical that the assault
for his relief could not be delayed any longer. I now directed
Thomas to order the charge at once. I watched eagerly to see
the effect, and became impatient at last that there was no indica-
tion of any charge being made. * * Turning to Thomas to
inquire what caused the delay, I was surprised to see Thomas J.
Wood, one of the division commanders who was to make the
charge, standing talking to him. I spoke to Gen. Wood, asking
him why he did not charge as ordered an hour before. He re-
plied very promptly that this was the first he had heard of it. I
told him to make the charge at once. He was off in a moment;
and in an incredibly short time loud cheering was heard, and he
and Sherman were driving the enemy's advance before them to
Missionary Ridge."

Gen. Wood, to whom I wrote in regard to this, replied as
follows:

DAYTON, Ohio, Sept. 22, 1887.

COMRADE J. H. SHERRATT. Dear Sir: Your esteemed favor
of the 21st inst, giving extracts from Gen. Grant's Memoirs in
regard to the assault on Missionary Ridge is received. The ex-
tracts are not correct, so far as I am concerned; and 1 am sure
Gen. Grant's memory was at fault when he wrote the narrative.

Truly yours, T. J. WOOD.

See, also, how this grave charge of disobedience of orders
by Thomas, made by Grant in 1884, melts away in the light of
the following from Grant's official report of 1863: "This move.

154 FIFTH REUNION OF THE

ment of his (Bragg's reinforcement of his right) being plainly
seen from the position I occupied on Orchard Knob, Baird's
division was ordered to support Sherman, but receiving a note
from Sherman that he had all the force necessary, Baird was put
in position on Thomas' left. The appearance of Hooker's col-
umns was at this time anxiously looked for and momentarily ex-
pected moving north on the Ridge. His approach was intended
as the signal for storming the Ridge in the center with strong
columns; but the length of time necessarily consumed in the con-
struction of a bridge over Chattanooga creek, detained him to a
later hour than expected. Being satisfied from the latest in-
formation from him that he must by this time be on his way
from Rossville, though not yet in sight, determined me to order
the advance at once. Thomas was accordingly directed to move
forward his troops constituting our center, Baird's, Wood's,
Sheridan's and Johnson's divisions, and carry the rifle pits at the
foot of the Ridge; and when carried, to reform his lines with a
view of carrying the top of the Ridge. The troops moved for-
ward, etc."

Here, then, it appears from Grant's official report that
Thomas was not ordered to move until the latest information
from Hooker placed him on his way from Rossville. Now Hook-
er did not leave Chattanooga creek till after 2:00 p. m.,and there
was no good ground to expect that he would be on his way- from
Rossville, though not yet in sight, before 3:00 p. m,, as a march
of several miles was necessary. It also appears that the march
on Missionary Ridge was not ordered until Baird was put in posi-
tion on Thomas' left. Thomas' official report fixes that time at
about 2:30 p. m. It says: "Owing to the difficulties of the
ground' his (Baird's) troops did not get into line until about 2:30
p. m. Orders were then given to move forward on Granger's
left, and within supporting distance, against the enemy's rifle
pits on the slope at the foot of Missionary Ridge. The whole
line then advanced, etc."

Gen. Baird, in a letter, states: "I reached there and got my
troops in position just as the gun was fired directing the assault;"
and we all know that the whole line moved at the sound of the
signal gun.

Sherman's official report fixes the time of advance at 3:00
p. m. It says: "About 3:00 p. m. I noticed the whole line of

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 155

musketry fire in front of Orchard Knob extending farther and
farther right and left and on."

The evidence, then, from all the official reports, agrees
that no movement in the center could have been ordered by
Grant before about 2:30 p. m. ; and as the line was well under
way and engaged by 3:00 p. m., there could not have been an
hour's delay on Thomas' part, as charged by Grant in the Me-
moirs. Indeed there could have been no delay at all. Thomas
was nothing if not a soldier; and with Sherman engaged to the
death at the tunnel, he needed no second order to advance in the
center to his relief. And that army, disciplined by him and in-
fused by his martial spirit, made the most magnificent charge in
all history. It went to the foot of the Ridge, to the top of the
Ridge, and beyond; and was stopped only by the early gather-
ing shades of that November night. It outran its orders, and
was carried on to victory by its impulses. The army and its
commander should live in story and in song so long as great
deeds find expression by tongue or pen.

Though not necessary for the defense of Thomas, it is prop-
er to state in this connection that Grant's order for battle,
Thomas' official report, and the testimony of all in position to
know, negatives the assertion of theMemoirs that "his (Hooker)
reaching Bragg's flank and extending across it, was to be the
signal for Thomas' assault of the Ridge, No assault of the
Ridge by Thomas was contemplated until success had come to
Sherman on our left, but the assault of the Ridge was a private
matter of those immediately concerned, and for which no general
officer of high command was responsible. In a recent conversa-
tion with Gen. Wood, he told me that his orders were to go
to the foot of the Ridge and stop. Indeed it is the testimony of
Gen. J. S. Fullerton that when the troops began the ascent of
the Ridge, Grant turned to Thomas and angrily inquired as to
who gave the order, and stated substantially that somebody
would suffer for it if all did not go well. In Grant's plan of battle
the few troops left with Thomas were to play a very minor part.
One half of all the forces at Chattanooga were given to Sherman,
and to him was entrusted the main attack. That attack having
tailed, not from any lack of gallantry on the part of those who
made it, a demonstration was ordered in the center for their re-
lief. It was wholly an accident that the demonstration became

156 FIFTH REUNION OF THE

the victorious assault; and all credit should be given here, as at
Orchard Knob two days before, to the men who ran away from
their generals, and won a victory in spite of them. For troops
who needed the inspiring example of an initiative by the Army
of the Tennessee to get them out of their trenches, they did well.

The Memoirs also state in substance that Thomas was to
have Granger, with the Fourth corps reinforced to 20,000, ready
to move on Knoxville after the battle at Missionary Ridge; that
on the 27th, he (Grant) sent back word from Ringgold to Thomas
to start Granger at once, and that on the 29th, when he returned
to Chattanooga, Thomas had not yet started him, but that
Granger had decided for himself that it was a bad move to
make.

As I have been unable to find anything in the official reports
accessible to me to either confirm or refute this, I have had re-
course to some of the living actors in that drama for testimony.
Gen. J. S. Fullerton, chief of staff to Granger at that time, writes
me from St. Louis, under date of December 9, 1887, as follows:
. "Grant's order to Granger was to come down from Mission-
ary Ridge, get ready to go to Knoxville, and wait further orders.
This he did at once and reported fully ready. After waiting till
his patience was exhausted, there came the order to start, and
he started immediately. Grant sent a messenger from Ringgold
to Granger at the Hiawassee crossing, thanking him for his
prompt and energetic movement. After Granger had been re-
moved, Garfield showed this note to Lincoln and Stanton, and
both said he should be assigned to any command he desired.
He was sent to Mobile."

I have a letter dated Cincinnati, July 16, 1888, from Capt.
J. G. Taylor, A. D. C. , to Gen. Granger, at the time of the battle
of Missionary Ridge, with reference to this note of Grant referred
to by Gen. Fullerton. He writes:

"The autograph note mentioned was not seen by me until
in New York City, where Gen. Granger was ordered to report
after he had been relieved from command of the Fourth army
corps. It was given to Gen. Garfield, who was then in congress,
and he went with it and other papers to have Gen. Granger re-
stored to active service. In this he was successful, and Granger
was ordered to New Orleans, and subsequently to Mobile Bay,
where his part in these campaigns is well known."

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 157

If Grant, while at Ringgold, sent a messenger to Granger
at the Hiawassee crossing, the Memoirs are certainly wrong in
stating that on the 29th, when he returned to Chattanooga,
Thomas had not yet started him. And if this messenger convey-
ed an autograph note from Grant thanking Granger for his prompt
and energetic movement, no further evidence is needed that the
reflections cast upon Gens. Thomas and Granger were unde-
served.

Passing over the succeeding twelve months, I again read
from the Memoirs this dreadful indictment: "Thomas made no
effort to reinforce Schofield at Franklin as it seemed to me at the
time he should have done, and fight out the battle there. He
simply ordered Schofield to continue his retreat to Nashville,
which the latter did during the night of the next day. Hood
was allowed to move upon Nashville and invest that place al-
most without interference. He (Thomas) had troops enough
even to annihilate him in the open field. To me his delay was
unaccountable, sitting there and permitting himself to be invest-
ed." Here are charges of inefficiency so colossal as indicate
either imbecility or treachery, and made, too, against an officer
who, two weeks later, won the most magnificent and complete
victory of the war. For a complete vindication of Gen. Thomas
in this connection, a short review of the events leading up to the
battles of Franklin and Nashville is necessary.

Previous to Sherman's start on his holiday march to the sea,
Thomas was sent back to Nashville to defend Tennessee. Sher-
man, with 62,000 men, as well appointed and perfect an army as
ever marched, turned his back on the foe; and, so far as the
campaign in Tennessee was concerned, might as well have been
in the moon. With him he took all the horses, the pontoon
trains, the serviceable wagons, and the field equipment of the
whole army, and turned over to Gen. Thomas the dismounted
cavalry, the convalescents, the various detachments performing
garrison duty, and two small corps, the Fourth and Twenty-
third, aggregating 22,000 men. Two divisions of A. J. Smith's
corps were promised him but long delayed, the first division of
5,000 men reaching him too late for the battle of Franklin, and
the second division not arriving at Nashville until December 2d.
And this was the force that, according to the Memoirs, was
enough to even annihilate him (Hood) in the open field.

158 FIFTH REUNION OF THE

In order to gain time for concentration and organization,
the Fourth and Twenty-third corps, Schofield in command, were
pushed to the front at Pulaski, to oppose and delay the enemy's
advance. The battle of Franklin was fought by them November
30th, and was won, owing to the strength of our position, from a
direct assault, and to the splendid valor of those twoveteran corps.
The temptation is great to halt here and pay a deserved tribute
to Opdyke's brigade, of which you formed a part, who, when
our center was broken and all seemed lost, charged into- the
breach and restored the line. I want some day to see the ser-
vices of this brigade at that time properly written up. It was
Thomas' idea to hold the field at Franklin, and he telegraphed
to Schofield to know if he could maintain his position for three
days till Smith could arrive. Schofield replied, "I do not be-
lieve I can; would hazard something in holding him (Hood) one
day. Ought to take position at Bentwood at once." Thomas
of course deferred to the judgment of the officer immediately in
command; and if the Memoirs are just in their criticism of the
retreat from Franklin, Gen. Schofield should bear the blame.
But are they just? On November 9th, Hood had at Florence,
Ala.: Infantry, 41,185; Ca-valry, 3,544; and on November 15th,
was joined by Forrest with 9,000 more cavalry. To oppose these
forces we had at Franklin less than 25,000 infantry and 5,000
cavalry; and there was great danger that by remaining there
longer we would be cut off from Nashville from our reinforce-
ments and supplies.

On December 2, 1864, Grant, at City Point, commenced
that remarkable series of telegrams to Thomas at Nashville,
beseeching, urging, ordering an attack. It was an attempt on
his part to conduct a campaign when one thousand miles away,
something that has never yet been successfully accomplished.
Thomas replied as best he could, regretting and explaining the
delay, and offering to submit to removal rather than move before
he was ready. In addition to the Fourth and Twenty-third corps,
Smith was on hand with 0,000 men. Every post south of Nash-
ville, except Murfreesboro and Chattanooga, had been aban-
doned, and from this source had come 5,000 men, commanded
by Steadman. A division of 5,000 more had been formed from
convalescents, and from men whose regiments were with Sher-
man. Horses had at last been secured for the cavalry, and the

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 159

attack was ordered. Then commenced a storm of sleet, last-
ing for three days, and covering hill and plain with a sheet of ice
making the movements of men and horses dangerous, if not
impossible. Again impatience reigned supreme at Washington
and at City Point. Logan was started westward to relieve
Thomas of command; and so great was Grant's anxiety that he
himself started for Nashville.

Clearing skies and melting ice enabled Thomas to strike on
the 15th. Logan was stopped at Louisville, and Grant at
Washington; and in his own good time, in his own way, and
with an army organized for the emergency, the "Rock of Chick-
amauga" won a victory that should have disarmed criticism. He
annihilated Hood's army, an armythathad resisted our combined
forces for six months, and put an end forever to armed oppo-
sition in the West. He did more. He saved the military repu-
tation of Gen. Sherman; for had disaster come to us at Nashville,
the March to the Sea would have gone down in history as the
great blunder of the war. Grant frankly and manfully recog-
nized at the time this great service, and bravely said that the vic-
tory fully vindicated Gen. Thomas' judgment as to the necessity
of the delay. Had the Memoirs been equally just in speaking of
Thomas' services at this grave crisis, no cause for criticism would
exist.

Later in the Memoirs we find complaints that Hood was not
pushed with the vigor that the circumstances would warrant. To
this no better answer can be made than Gen. Thomas made at the
time. In his letter to Halleckof December21, 1864, hesaid: "Gen.
Hood's army is being pursued as rapidly and as vigorously as it is
possible for one army to pursue another. We cannot control
the elements; and you must remember, to resist Hood's advance
into Tennessee, I had to organize and almost thoroughly equip
the force under my command. I fought the battle of the 15th
and 16th inst. with the troops but partially equipped; and, not-
withstanding the inclemency of the weather and the partial equip-
ment, have been enabled to drive the enemy beyond Duck river,
crossing two streams with my troops, and driving the enemy from
position to position without the aid of pontoons, and with but
little transportation to bring up supplies, provisions and ammu-
nition. I am doing all in my power to crush Hood's army, and
if possible, will destroy it. But pursuing an enemy through an

160 FIFTH REUNION OF THE

exhausted country, over mud roads completely sogged with
heavy rains, is no child's play, and cannot be accomplished as
quickly as thought of. I hope, in urging me to push the enemy,
the department remembers that Gen. Sherman took with him
the complete organization of the military division of the" Missis-
sippi, well equipped in every respect as regards ammuntion, sup-
plies and transportation, leaving me only two corps, partially
stripped of their transportation to accommodate the force taken
with him, to oppose the advance into Tennessee of that army
which has resisted the advance of the army of the military divi-
sion of Mississippi on Atlanta, from the commencement of the
campaign till its close; and which is now in addition aided by
Forrest's cavalry. Although my progress may appear slow, I
feel assured that Hood's army can be driven from Tennessee,
and eventually driven to the wall, by the force under my com-
mand.

But too much must not be expected of troops which have to
be reorganized, especially when they have the task of destroying
a force in a winter's campaign, which was able to make an ob-
stinate resistance to twice its number in spring and summer. In
conclusion, I can safely state that this army is willing to submit
to any sacrifice to oust Hood's army, or to strike any other blow
which may contribute to the destruction of the rebellion."

This was Gen. Thomas' move at the time. If further answer
is needed, let the shattered remnants of Hood's army speak for
him. Of all that magnificent army that defended Atlanta, and
later marched to Franklin and Nashville, scarcely 5,000 ever
came together. We have the testimony of the Memoirs that
Thomas' movements were always so deliberate and so slow,
though effective in defense. The enemy can bear witness to the
rest.

The Memoirs were written under stress of financial embar-
rassments, and amidst the shadows of impending death. They
are the recollections of a dying man. There was no time for
searching records or gathering data; and we all know what a
treacherous thing is memory after the lapse of twenty years. The
marvel is, not that they contain mistakes, but that there are so
few. If, in the light of the records which the author of those
Memoirs had no time to consult, we can point out errors, we
would not do it in a spirit of hostility to him; we would not do

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 161

it in a spirit of unkindness, but merely that others may not suffer
from statements whose only value comes from the prestige of his
great name. With the name of Grant are associated the proud-
est recollections of the war. On his head rests as a halo the
wreath of well earned victory. With entire loyalty to him; with-
out detracting one iota from his great fame, we would defend the
memory of him whom we trusted as a leader and loved as a father
— Gen. George H. Thomas. In the religion of Rome there was
room for all the gods of every conquered province. In the Am-
erican heart there is a place for all its honored names.

Here, comrades, my task is ended, so far as your request is
concerned. Permit me to add a few words more, not in defense
of Gen. Thomas, but that through the mists of a quarter of cen-
tury we may catch glimpses of the greatness of his services, and
of the nobility of his character.

When the war began he was one of a remarkable group of
men constituting the field officers of the Second cavalry — Col.
Albert Sydney Johnson, Lieut. -Col. Robert E. Lee, and Majors
Hardee and Thomas. He was forty-five years of age, and so in the
full vigor of life. A born soldier, a graduate of West Point, and a
veteran of twenty years of active service, he was thoroughly
equipped for the impending conflict. It is not necessary to re-
count to you his military achievements, for were you not of the
Army of the Ohio and the Cumberland? And is not his history
the history of that army? He organized and commanded the
force that won our first important victory at Mill Spring; and
three years later, at Nashville, he destroyed the last armed op-
position in the West. During those three years men came and
went, victories were lost and won, but he was always on duty,
never made a mistake, and so ordered his command as to retrieve
it from the mistakes of others. He never sought a command, and
never shrank from reponsibilities. He had confidence in him-
self, in his plans, and in his men. He was a believer in organi-
zation and preparation. He had the military instinct to discern
the weakness of an enemy, and to tell him when and where and
how to strike. He was never unduly elated or depressed. His
fixity of purpose and unbending will was stamped upon every
line of his face. "We will hold the place till we starve," was
his telegram from Chattanooga to Grant at Louisville. And yet
this stern man of duty, who rarely smiled, was genial and hu-

162 FIFTH REUNION OF THE

mane; and from his great kindness of heart, from his ever watch-
ful care, was known to all his "boys" as "Pap" Thomas.
Growing in strength as his burdens increased, he was at the close
of the war everywhere recognized as one of our four great com-
manders. He was not ambitious. When ordered to relieve Gen.
Buell, he asked to have the order suspended. When urged to
be a candidate for president, he refused. He never complained.
To officers who were overlooked in the organization of new regi-
ments in the regular army, he said: "I have taken great pains
to educate myself not to feel;" and though his sensitive soul must
have often suffered from injustice and neglect, he was as silent
then as now. He served without a murmur under Gen. Rose-
crans, his junior, and gave to him the most loyal support. He
never boasted, nor was he jealous of the success of others. He
never asked a favor for himself, and he never lobbied for himself
or friends. He declined a sum of money about to be raised for
him by friends in Cincinnati, and proposed that it be given to
the widows and orphans of soldiers. He was not a member of
any church; but from his Welsh father and Huguenot mother he
inherited a firm belief in an overruling providence, and in those
great truths of Christianity that underlie all the churches. He
enjoyed stories, and if of the proper kind would listen to them
for hours, but rarely told one. In his thoughts and actions he
was as pure and modest as a girl. This commander of ours, so
great in his simple modesty, so great in his honesty and human-
ity, so great in all the elements of a successful soldier, was great
also in his loyalty. Born in Virginia, he was one of the few offi-
cers of the regular army from the South who remained true to
the Union. What it cost him cannot be measured by our poor
experiences. To him it meant the sacrifice of the associations
of a lifetime, of the ties of kindred and of home; and to this day
he is, throughout the South, regarded as a traitor to his state.
For this, if for no other reason, his name should be remembered
lovingly to the latest generations.

In June, 1869, Gen. Thomas arrived in San Francisco and
took command of the department of the Pacific. It was his last
assignment. On March 28, 1870, at noon, he was attacked
while in his office with fainting, was not conscious after 3:00
o'clock, and at 7:15 p. m. he died. His body was borne by lov-
ing hands across a continent to Troy, N. Y., where, eighteen

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 163

years before, he was married; and on April 8th, under bright
skies and amidst the newly awakening life of spring, he was for-
ever laid at rest.

Standing on the Pacific's shore and looking out through the
Golden Gate to the West we see the East. We look across the
ocean where the new and the old come together, where the days
with the meridians meet, where time and eternity seem one on
its ever changing, ever changeless waters. From that shore, on
that March evening eighteen years ago, the spirit of our old com-
mander passed through other Golden Gates to other shores,
where, on the peaceful waters of God's eternal love, all things
are ever new, the days are a perpetual morning, and time and its
mutations are unknown.

Proceedings Sixth Reunion

August 27, 1590, Oregon, Illinois

PRESENT 79.

BUSINESS MEETING.

The members of Co. G assembled at Oregon, 111., at 12:00
m., August 27, 1890, and marched to the depot to receive the
members of the regiment and the ladies from Rockford. The /
regiment formed in line and marched to the M. E. church for
dinner, under command of the President, Jos. F. Hawthorne.
After dinner the regiment formed in line under command of the
President and marched to the fair grounds.

The meeting was called to order by President Hawthorne.
Address of welcome by Franc Bacon, Mayor of the city of Ore-
gon. Response by John H. Sherratt, Mayor of the city of Rock-
ford. Upon motion of comrade John H. Sherratt, comrade Robt.
Simpson passed the hat, and was directed to pass by Co. G, to
raise money to defray the expenses of publishing the proceedings
of the fifth and sixth annual reunions of the Seventy-fourth regi-
ment Illinois Volunteers. Carried.

Upon motion of comrade Sanders it was resolved that the
Seventy-fourth Regiment Illinois Volunteers hold their annual re-
union at Rockford, 111., September 4, 1891, and that the officers
electcorrespondwith the officers of the Ninety-second, Ninety-fifth
and Ninety-sixth regiments Illinois Volunteers, on the propriety
of holding a joint reunion in 1891 at Rockford, 111. Carried.

166 SIXTH REUNION OF THE

Upon motion, the following comrades were duly elected of-
ficers for the ensuing year:

JOHN H. SHERRATT, President.

VICE-PRESIDENTS.

J. S. Cowan Company A

B. W. Wallace " B

James Oliver " C

John Betson " D

Chas. Wilmarth « E

Floyd Smith t " F

John Killey * « G

Geo. A. Hurd " H

F. W. Fuller J

H. B. Utter K

M. S. PARMELE, Secretary.
THOS. COLE, Treasurer.

Upon motion of comrade M. S. Parmele, comrades John H.
Sherratt, Hosmer P. Holland and Jos. F. Hawthorne, were
elected a committee of three to secure historian for the ensuing
year 1891. Carried.

Upon motion of comrade John H. Sherratt, a vote of thanks
of the regiment to Co. G and the ladies for their hospitality in
entertaining the regiment while at Oregon, 111. Carried.

Upon motion, the regiment adjourned to meet at Rockford,
111., on September 4, 1891. Carried.

ADDRESS OF WELCOME.

BY FRANC BACON, MAYOR OF OREGON, ILL.

Mr. President: It is indeed a pleasure, personal and official,
to offer you the hospitalities of our city, and for a second time
the citizens of Oregon gladly welcome you to their midst.

You are but a scanty remnant of that thousand or more who,
a little over a quarter of a century ago, laid aside their personal
affairs, and dedicated their lives for the suppression of the rebel-
lion, and gave us national unity, internal peace, and th6 condi-
tions requisite to allow every man to win happiness and prosper-
ity.

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 167

From that greatest of all internecine war but three hundred
and forty-three of you, men and officers, were permitted to re-
turn. Mission Ridge, Rocky Face, Resaca, Adairsville, Dallas,
Smyrna, .Lost Mountain, Liberty Gap, Peach Tree Creek, Atlan-
ta, Jonesborough, Columbia, Franklin, Nashville, and the dead-
liest of all, the assault on Kenesaw, where your loss was thirty-
one percent., tell the story of your great loss.

The pleasures of your meeting here to-day will no doubt be
tempered and saddened by the thought that since you were last
here a number of your regiment who answered to your roll call
are not with you. Death has again invaded your ranks and re-
moved from your little circle some of your cherished comrades.
Disease has laid hold of others, who, while physically incapa-
citated from personal attendance, are with you in thought and
spirit. It may be that unkindly fate, poverty, prevents others
from answering "present." If that be true in any case, and up-
on being made known to you, I have no doubt but that you will
extend relief with the same ready hand and open heart that has
always characterized your fraternal treatment of one another.

Compared with others, our nation has been generous in its
treatment of its soldiers, yet there is much that should be done
to alleviate the troubles and misfortunes of its old defenders.
And it should be done speedily and without opposition. What
is done for one is done for all, for ours is "a government of the
people, by the people, and for the people." Let the good work
progress, so that never again shall it be said that a single soldier
is prevented from attending the reunion of his regiment because
of want or lack of means to do so.

Rest assured that your struggles and sacrifices are appreci-
ated by all loyal, law-abiding citizens of this great republic.
And know, too, that we realize that all the lavish expenditure of
blood and treasure during the period from 1861 to 1865 was not
the result of chance. The war was no accident, it was inevitable.
It had come as surely and certainly as that sickness must follow
the impregnation of the human system with the germs of disease.

The seeming great waste of human life was necessary in or-
der that the republic, as a republic, might live. And to accom-
plish that end your health, lives and property were offered, not
in the spirit that the eastern sun worshipper burns incense or in-
flicts self punishment in the hope of appeasing the fancied wrath

168 SIXTH REUNION OF THE

of his wooden God, but in the broader sense that a perpetuation
of the government of Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Clay and
Webster demanded that the stain of human slavery should be
wiped from the institutions of that nation by the life-blood, if
necessary, of its patriotic and chivalrous citizen soldiery.

You may well feel proud of your record made in that great
struggle. Not that the pages of history accord you great space
or lavish mention, but rather tell the simple, noble, and most
glorious story, that, like Cincinnatus of old, you put aside the
plow and buckled on the sword in defense of human right and
freedom.

Among the cherished mementoes of the war stored at our
state capitol is the first flag borne by your regiment. Its tatter-
ed folds and powder-begrimed appearance bear testimony unim-
peachable of its and your presence "amidst the din and havoc
of stern war."

Your second flag was baptized at Missionary Ridge, and its
thirteen cannon and bullet holes speak in no uncertain manner
of the dangers that day incurred and braved by you. If the la-
mented Sheridan had never written his "Memoirs" and taken
occasion to say, as he did say, that yours was one of the first on
the crest of the Ridge that day, still you have a witness in that
tattered flag, that like the masterpiece of sculpture and painting
convey to posterity the imperishable deeds of your renown.

These flags, rent and bathed in patriotic life-blood, like the
toga of the great Caesar, will, with tongues of eloquence, awake
in the breasts of future generations, the warmest passions of love,
gratitude and admiration for those who bore them in battle.

You have the proud satisfaction of living to see the day
that witnesses the happy fruits of victory; and to realize that
the vast and varied resources of our country, its present wealth
and prosperity, and unparalleled prospects of future greatness,
secured by your efforts, and to be enjoyed forever by the reunited
people of one great nation, undivisible and inseparable, are the
priceless boon of the untold sacrifices of the loyal men and
women of this country, and that the valor of the old Seventy-
fourth contributed in no small degree in bringing about these
glorious results. It is but human nature that when I think that
he to whom I owe my existence was one of your number, and
was one of those who, in the inscrutable ways of Divine Provi-

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 169

dence, laid down his life that his nation might live intact, my
heart should ever respond to the warmest emotions of pride and
glory in the unsullied history of the Seventy-fourth regiment.

In closing, allow me again to indulge in the hope and wish,
seconded by all the people of our little city, that at no distant
day you will again favor us with your presence in undiminished
numbers.

RESPONSE.

BY JOHN H. SHERRATT, MAYOR OF ROCKFORD, ILL.

Mr, Mayor, Ladies and Comrades: This is our second reunion
in Oregon. Four years ago we were here, then as now, the
guests of our old comrades of Co. G, of their neighbors and
friends; and our reception was so cordial, the commissariat
so overflowing, that we have been trying to get back here ever
since.

It was a peculiarity of the members of Co. G, (and age, I see,
has only confirmed them in their sins) that if there was anything
worth having they would have it. We of Co. K, their nearest
neighbors, often had occasion to remark this.

They were very much interested in us, and there was so
much in their surroundings to remind us of what we had lost, and
so much that ,wore to us a familiar look, that it was almost like
going home to visit them. We have that feeling now, only that
it is heightened by the knowledge that in accepting their hos-
pitality we are not devouring our own substance.

Meeting, as we do, at the home of those old comrades of
Co. G, a company that always did its full share to make glorious
the record of our regiment; meeting, as we do, at the home of
that company's heroic and chivalric captain, Bowman W. Bacon,
whom we all honored and loved; meeting, as we do, in a city and
in a county that stood second to none in its devotion to the Union,
and in its sacrifices to maintain it, we know that we are welcome,
and gratefully accept the hospitalities so freely offered. We may
fail in words, but we cannot fail in our hearts to respond to the
reception accorded us to-day; to the eloquent address of wel-
come by your worthy mayor, and to the fine tribute he has paid
to the services of this regiment. Our regiment needs no higher
praise than this — that its record was a highly honorable one in

170 SIXTH REUNION OF THE

that grand army of which it was a part. In that army there was
a standard of excellence never higher since armies were muster-
ed among men. This has become a matter of undisputed his-
tory, and we would not enlarge upon it. We lived to see that
army victorious; and we have lived to see our cause vindicated
by the results. Even those against whom we fought are glad we
won, and would not now change the verdict rendered at Appo-
matox if they could.

What has not been referred to, but what we would not for-
get up on occasions like this, are the motives and services of that
larger band of patriots, the loyal people of the North, who, un-
able to go to the front, did their full duty at home.

They upheld the hands of the government. They provided
it with the sinews of war. They sustained us in the field. They
wrote us letters of encouragement, of hope and of love. They
did at home their work and ours; and when the war was over,
welcomed us back again. The father or mother who would not
say "stay" to an only son; the wife who could blot the sun from
out her sky and say "go" to a loving husband, lived upon a high-
er plane of duty than we.

Ogle county was full of such men and women. The most
of them have gone to their reward, but some of them are here to-
day; and to all of them, living and dead, the country owes a
debt it can never repay.

Comrades, a few words more personal to ourselves and I
am done. From time to time since the close of the war, pension
laws, gradually increasing in liberality, have been passed by
congress. All of them, until the recent enactment, have pro-
ceeded on the theory that the government should provide for
those who were disabled by wounds received, or disease con-
tracted in the line of duty; and, in case of their death, for those
dependent upon them.

Certainly no one whose heart was with us in the late con-
test could object to this. Had the government, with its over-
flowing coffers, done less, it would have been unworthy of those
who followed its flag, and forever unworthy of those who died
for it.

Recently, however, the bounty of the government has been
extended to every honorably discharged soldier who served ninety
days and is now incapacitated, mentally or physically, except

SEVENTY- FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 171

from his own vicious habits, whether it originated in the service
or not. It is estimated that this will increase the cost of pen-
sions more than one-half, and raise the annual outlay on that ac-
count to more than $150,000,000, or $2.50 for each man, woman
and child in this country. Has not the time come to call a halt;
and if so, should not we, who would be the beneficiaries of future
legislation, be the ones to do it?

It is a delicate matter for one who has not been a soldier to
speak of; many keep silent lest their motives be misconstrued.
Already some of our friends have been alienated, friends who
have been with us from the first tap of the drum till now. Can
we afford this ? Is there not great danger, if the matter is push-
ed further, that the whole system will break down of its own
weight, and that those who are already provided for will be in.
eluded in the catastrophe? Do we care to take the risk ? There
is a limit beyond which we cannot safely go; and is not that
limit reached when nearly one-half of the total revenues of the
government is taken for this purpose? It is said that republics
are ungrateful, but never again can that be said of one republic
at least.

We served our country in no mercenary spirit. Having
saved it, we demanded that it care for its wounded, its widows
and its orphans, and for those unable to longer care for them-
selves. This it has done, and let us stop right there.

THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

BY ANDREW J. POTTER.
READ AT SIXTH REUNION, OREGON, ILL., AUGUST 27, 1890.

The success of Maj.-Gen. U. S. Grant, in 1863, in securing
the surrender of Vicksburg and the rebel army defending it, and
later in the decisive victory at Chattanooga, showed what might
be accomplished by a concentration of a sufficient force under an
officer who was, without interference from Washington, able to
handle it in his own way and time.

On Gen. Grant being appointed Lieutenant-General, and to
the command of the armies of the United States, a new era dawn-
ed on the course of the rebellion. Every effort was put forth

172 SIXTH REUNION OF THE

during the winter of 1863-4 to concentrate means and men to
prosecute a vigorous and final campaign against the rebel armies.

In the reorganization of the forces it was decided that Gen.
Grant should, in addition to supervision of all the United States
forces, have his immediate headquarters with the army in the field
in Virginia, making Lee's army his objective; while Major-Gen.
William Tecumseh Sherman should command the division of the
Mississippi, having in view the destruction of the rebel army
under Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, then in command at Dalton,
Ga., some thirty miles south of Chattanooga, Tenn. , where would
be the base of supplies of the Union army during the ensuing
campaign.

Gen. Johnston's command included the territory east of the
Mississippi river to the Atlantic; and although during the winter
in question he had only in the neighborhood of 35,000 troops at
Dalton, yet by the time the campaign opened he had. at Resaca
about 70,000 men, having called in from all parts of his depart-
ment nearly all available troops.

To compass the destruction of this force Gen. Sherman had
a force consisting of the Twenty-third corps, Army of the Ohio,
under Maj.-Gen. John M. Schofield, 14,000 men; the Army of
the Cumberland, Fourth, Fourteenth and Twentieth corps; 60,-
000 men, under Maj.-Gen. George H. Thomas; and the Army
of the Tennessee, Fifteenth, Sixteenth and Seventeenth corps,
25,000 men, under Maj.-Gen. James B. McPherson, the latter
two each consisting of but two divisions, and the Seventeenth
corps not joining until June. One division each of the Sixteenth
and Seventeenth corps were on the Mississippi under Maj.-Gen.
Smith, engaged under Banks in what was known as the Red
river expedition, and were prevented from ever joining Sherman's
army in Georgia. Gen. Sherman thus had, on entering the cam-
paign on the 7th of May, a grand aggregate of 100,000 men and
254 pieces of artillery.

On the 2nd of May the Seventy-fourth regiment joined the
brigade from which it had been detached since arrival at Knox-
ville during the 1st of the previous December. On the 3rd, the
command moved from Cleveland, Tenn., to Catoosa Springs,
Ga. , where the Fourth, Fourteenth and Twentieth corps were
assembled. On the 7th, the entire army moved toward Dalton,
where the enemy was found in position on Rocky Face Ridge,

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 173

covering the direct road through Buzzard Roost Gap. The
Army of the Cumberland closed up on the rebel front while the
Army of the Tennessee worked down the valley on the right, and
the Army of the Ohio flanked Rocky Face on the left, coming in
from Cleveland on the north.

On -the 9th, the Army of the Tennessee moved through
Snake Creek Gap in front of Resaca; but, contrary to instruc-
tions, instead of attacking the small force covering the town and
bridges, and probably cuttingjohnston's line of cummunication,
and forcing him towards the east of the railroad track, fell back
and intrenched in Snake Creek Gap. McPherson was rapidly
reinforced by the Twentieth, Twenty-third and Fourteenth corps,
but it was too late. Gen. Sherman remarked to him: "I fear,
Mac, that you have missed the opportunity of your life."

The Fourth corps had been holding Rocky Face, and when
on the moving of the Thirteenth we found Johnston gone, we
moved directly to and through Dalton, our brigade, the First, of
second division, fourth corps, being in advance.

On the 14th, the army closed up on Johnston, forming
an intrenched line on his front from the river, the Ostanaula,
above to the same stream below Resaca. The Army of the Ten-
nessee again advanced, so that their artillery could reach the vil-
lage and bridges.

On the 15th, Sweeney's division of the Sixteenth corps was
threatening to cross the river at Lay's Ferry, some miles below,
and within reach of the railroad at Calhoun. Also preparations
were under way to cross at a point on our extreme left above the
town.

The result of these demonstrations was that on the morning
of the 16th there was no enemy in our front.

On the 14th we met with our first loss, having three killed
and fifteen wounded; and the next day our loss was one killed
and seven wounded. Some of the wounded may have been
mortal, the figures being taken from a diary written on the even-
ing of each day.

On the 17th we found the rebel army once more near Adairs-
ville, with a loss to the regiment of one killed and thirty wound-
ed.

The Army of the Cumberland had position in the center fol-
lowing the main wagon road, while that of the Ohio was on a

174 SIXTH REUNION OF THE

parallel road to the east, and the Army of the Tennessee to the
west on similar roads.

Johnston halted at and near Adairsville with intention of
giving battle, but owing to our front being so extended as to
flank him, and partly to disagreements among and with his corps
commanders, he again moved to his rear during the night of the
17th, taking a position in the neighborhood of Cassville and
Kingston, prepared to offer battle, but on the evening of the 19th
Lieut. -Generals Polk and Hood, two of his corps commanders,
claimed that the skirmishing during the day proved that their
lines were enfiladed by our artillery, and they deemed it impos-
sible to hold their positions under such circumstances; as a con-
sequence, that night Johnston fell back behind the Etowa River
and the hills about Allatoona.

On the 23d began the movement of the whole army to the
right, aiming to strike Dallas, from which a number of the coun-
try roads radiated, and flank Johnston from his Allatoona posi-
tion.

On the 25th, Geary's division, Twentieth corps, became en-
gaged in front of New Hope church, having skirmished from the
crossing of Pumpkin Creek.

This was the first opportunity that we as a regiment had
ever had to see the rear of an army while engaged, and the
sights were certainly not inspiriting. One could but wonder if
it were a necessity to have so many bands, drum corps and cooks,
as the road was lined with them; and also if it required two men
to help off the field one with a broken finger, how many assist-
ants would be necessary if his head were gone ?

On the next evening we moved to the immediate front, throw-
ing up works in support of the skirmishers; and thus began a
ten days' course of building up breast works and skirmishing.
Being at all times under fire it was decidedly unsafe to expose
any portion of one's body above the works. The skirmishing
was not confined to shooting at Johnnies by any means.

In the meantime Sherman was extending his lines to the
right and left, Wood's division, Fourth corps, having a severe
battle at Picket's Mills, and Sweeney's division, Sixteenth corps,
being heavily engaged on the right near Dallas. In order to con-
front Sherman at Dallas, Johnston was obliged to lose his hold
on the railroad at Allatoona; and while the Army of the Cumber-

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 175

land was holding the rebels at New Hope, the balance of the
forces was transferred to the left, finally striking and holding the
railroad at Ackworth. Johnston evacuated his works on the
night of June 4th, falling back to Kenesaw Mountain as his
right, and holding Pine and Lost Mountains. The loss of the
regiment during the ten days was five killed and nine wounded,
showing that we were very close up to the rebel works all the
time. Loss during May, ten killed and sixty wounded.

The Union forces advanced nearly one hundred miles during
the month, with an aggregate loss of 1,863 killed and missing,
and 7,436 wounded; total loss, 9,299. The three armies had
started on the^campaign with an aggregate of 100,000 men; and
on June 1st, by the return of veterans and arrival of two divisions
of the Seventeenth corps and new regiments, still preserved the
same force, and it was understood that the rebels had received
reinforcements sufficient to make good their losses during the
month.

By June 10th the armies had worked close up to the enemy,
and had their intrenchments paralleled; and from that date, for
the rest of the month, it was a continual skirmish, Sherman's
object being to work to the right, and, flanking, compel the ene-
my to draw in his left until he exposed the railroad between
Marietta and Atlanta. He desisted from this purpose only,
when, on the 27th of June, he ordered an attack on the rebel
works, in which attack this regiment suffered the severest pro-
portionate loss in its history. The second division, Fourteenth
corps, charged in front of Kenesaw; Harrow's division of the
Army of the Tennessee attacked with a loss of 500, while the
two divisons of the Army of the Cumberland lost 1,580 in killed,
wounded and missing in about an equal division.

The second brigade of our division charged in close column
by division closed in mass at first division, one regiment follow-
ing another, and failed to reach the rebel works. While they
yet lay on the field, the First brigade, which lay in support en cs-
chelon, was ordered forward and succeeded in its attempt no
better.

The dead and wounded of both brigades being mingled, the
Third brigade charged farther to the right, and met with an equal-
ly bloody repulse.

The regiment's loss was eighteen killed, thirty-nine wounded

176 SIXTH REUNION OF THE

and six missing prisoners. Among our loss were Lieut. -Col.
Kerr, CaptainsButtolph, Barker, Baconand Stegner killed or mor-
tally wounded, and Adjutant Neiman wounded; and here it was
that, when ordered to fall back, the color sergeant, John Wilson,
Co. G, being mortally wounded, color corporal John G. Waldie
seized the colors, and though but a very few yards from the
rebels, and they clamoring for the "damned Yankee to bring in
them colors," halted long enough to politely request them to "go
to hell," and carried them safely back to the works, thereby sav-
ing the pride and good name of the regiment. All honor to
John G. Waldit !

The first half of the month was a continual rainstorm, and
progress in any direction was almost impossible. It was not un-
til the very last of the month that Sherman concluded to cut en-
tirely loose from the railroad and swing around Johnston's left,
landing on the railroad at his rear, and near the Chattahooche
river. The movement was commenced on July 2d by McPher-
son withdrawing from his lines on the left and moving toward the
right, the result of which was that Johnston that night withdrew
from Kenesaw to Smyrna camp grounds. The results of the
month's operations were not satisfactory, in point of territory
gained, as had been the month previous. The loss of the regi-
ment during June was twenty killed, sixty wounded, and six
missing prisoners. Sherman's entire loss, killed and missing,
1,790, wounded, 5,740; total 7,530.

July 4th the regiment lost seven wounded on the skirmish
line, and that night Johnston again withdrew from our front,
crossing two corps to the south-east side of the Chattahoochee,
and fortifying Hardee's corps to hold the bridges.

On the 9th, the division went up the river, crossing at Ros-
well and fortifying, while other troops built a bridge where we
had forded. We returned to Vining's Station the 12th, on being
relieved by the Army of the Tennessee. Moving again the 13th,
we crossed the river atPaice's Ferry on pontoons. After the en-
tire army had crossed to the south-east banks, the movement on
Atlanta began as a grand right wheel, the Fourteenth corps form-
ing the pivot resting on the junction of Nancy's and Peach Tree
Creeks. Next came the Twentieth corps, then the Fourth, next
the Twenty-third, and swinging out to and through Decatur was
the Fifteenth, Sixteenth and Seventeenth corps.

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 177

Johnston held a line covering the river bridges, and thence
along the Atlanta side of Peach Tree Creek; but on the 17th a
change in command had taken place in the rebel army, Hood
succeeding Johnston; and by the Union commanders a change
of policy was looked for from their knowledge of the personality
of the two men.

On the morning of the 20th, the Army of the Cumberland
was across Peach Tree Creek, with the exception of the First and
Third divisions of the Fourth corps, Stanley and Wood.

They were trying to fill the gap of two miles between
the Buckhead and Atlanta bridges and the right of the
Army of the Ohio. About the middle of the afternoon Hood
suddenly advanced two corps, having massed all his available
force, intending to strike the gap mentioned as being partially
occupied by Stanley and Wood, and also hoping to catch the
Union troops in the confusion of crossing a small but deep
stream. The result was that Newton's division, Fourth corps,
repulsed a rebel force of three divisions, while the whole front of
the Twentieth corps were hotly engaged, and after desperate
fighting repulsed Hood's attack.

On being repulsed, the rebels withdrew within an elaborate
line of works built some months previously by impressed
negroes.

On the 21st the Army of the Cumberland worked their way
up to and invested these works, throwing up intrenchments from
west of the Chattanooga and Atlanta railroad, around to and con-
necting with Gen. Schofield's Twenty-third corps. But Hood
was not discouraged by his failure of the 20th, and on the 22nd,
while the Army of the Tennessee was getting position, he attack-
ed again with his old corps and part of Hardee's. In this en-
gagement Maj.-Gen. James B. McPherson, commanding Army
of the Tennessee, was killed. This battle, known as the battle
of Atlanta, was the hardest fought, and on the most extended
scale, of the campaign, and resulted in the rebels returning to
the works around Atlanta a whipped army.

The next week was spent in building works as close to the
rebels as possible and repairing the railroad, including re-
building the bridge over the Chattahoochee which Johnston had
destroyed. And it is worthy of remark that one can almost say
with truth that during the entire campaign the locomotive kept

178 SIXTH REUNION OF THE

pace with the skirmish line; and notwithstanding many tempo-
rary breaks of the railroad line, never were we without our ra-
tions and a sufficiency of quartermaster supplies, to say nothing
of ammunition.

On the 27th the Army of the Tennessee moved from the ex-
treme left to the extreme right, and on the 28th, while getting
positions to extend the Union lines to the right toward the rail-
roads leading south of Atlanta, were again furiously attacked,
and again did they repulse the enemy. Thus it will be seen that
during the month of July the Union army had, in the face of a
strong and well-officered opponent, crossed a difficult river, been
attacked and whipped him in three separate and severe engage-
ments, and now had him invested in the city, the possession of
which, on our part, had become the object of the campaign.
Hood's only railroad communication was to the south and south-
west, the Augusta road being destroyed. The loss of the regi-
ment during the month was but eleven wounded, of whom some
probably died. The loss of the army was in killed and missing
3,804. This includes the prisoners taken on the 22nd from the
Seventeenth corps. Wounded, 5,915 — a total loss of 9,719.

On the 2nd of August, the Twenty-third corps, Army of the
Ohio, which had for several days been on the extreme left, was
transferred to the right in the effort to reach the Macon railroad.
The Fourth corps was thinned out to fill the ground thus vacated,
and were joined by cavalry on the left. At the same time the
survivors of the two cavalry expeditions under Stoneman and
McCook respectively, came into our lines at different points.
They had been sent out to the rear of Atlanta to break the rail-
roads, and thus induce the evacuation of the place. Gen. Stone-
man also had a hare-brained scheme to push on to Macon and
Andersonville to liberate prisoners. He failed miserably, and,
in fact, Gen. Sherman was deprived of his cavalry just when
most needed, for those who escaped death or prison were fatally
demoralized. And now, perhaps, it would be interesting to men-
tion the changes in command, both among the prominent offi-
cers and among our own immediate superiors.

On leaving Cleveland Col. Marsh commanded the regiment,
but, through ill health, was with us but a portion of the time un-
til August 19th, when he resigned. During his absence Lieut. -
Col. Kerr commanded until Kenesaw Mountain, June 27th; then

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 179

Capt. Thomas J. Bryan, of Co. H, as senior captain, succeeded
to the command, which he continued until mustered out.

May 1st, Col. Frank T. Sherman, Eighty-eighth Illinois,
commanded the brigade. He was relieved by Brig. -Gen. Nathan
Kimball about May 20th, and he by Col. Emerson Opdycke, of
the 125th Ohio, about July 25th, his regiment being transferred
from the Third brigade to the First, exchanging with the Fif-
teenth Missouri.

At the beginning of the campaign the division was com-
manded by Brig. -Gen. John Newton, who remained with us un-
til September 29th. At Cleveland Maj.-Gen. O. O. Howard
succeeded Maj.-Gen. Gordon Granger as commander of the
Fourth corps, and remained such until the death of Maj.-Gen.
McPherson, July 22nd, when he assumed command of the Army
of the Tennessee; Maj.-Gen. David S. Stanley succeeding to the
command of the Fourth corps, Brig. -Gen. Nathan Kimball suc-
ceeding Stanley as commander First division, Fourth corps.

When Gen. Howard took command of the Army of the Ten-
nessee, Gen. Hooker, commanding Twentieth corps, felt ag-
grieved at Howard being preferred to himself, and asked to be
relieved of his command, which was done, Maj.-Gen. H. W.
Slocum succeeding him.

When the Twenty-third corps, under Gen. Schofield, moved
to the right of Atlanta, Maj.-Gen. Palmer, commanding Four-
teenth corps, was ordered to co-operate with him, but claiming
to have the oldest commission objected to taking Schofield's or-
ders, and, as the matter was insisted on, resigned the command
of the Fourteenth corps, and was promptly succeeded by Brevet
Maj.-Gen. Jefferson C. Davis, a gentleman of whom we all had
some personal knowledge, and who richly earned the full rank
of Major-General.

The month of August was almost entirely consumed in work-
ing the right of the army around Atlanta to reach the railroads,
but as fast as the lines were extended a corresponding line of
works was found with determined rebels behind them. All of
these movements were under fire, and although none appear as
pitched battles, the killed and wounded ran up to almost an ap-
palling total. About the middle of the month Gen. Kilpatrick,
with all the available cavalry, started out from the right, break-
ing the West Point railroad at Fairburn; and two days later

180 SIXTH REUNION OF THE

made another dash on the Macon road at Jonesboro, and then
pushed through, by the way of Decatur, to our left, having made
a circuit of the rebel rear. He was hardly safe in our lines be-
fore the rebels had both roads in running order again.

On the Twenty-sixth, the Twentieth corps withdrew to the
Chattahoochee bridge as guard to the trains and supplies con-
centrated there, while the rest of the army cut entirely loose
from all communication to the rear and marched for the rebel
line of communication.

On the 28th the Fourth and Fourteenth corps reached the
West Point Road near Red Oak. The Army of the Tennessee was
above Fairburn, and the Twenty-third corps near East Point.

On that night and the next day the army thoroughly destroy-
ed twelve and one-half miles of the track. The 13th was occu-
pied in movements toward the Macon road, which was reached
near Jonesboro by the Fourteenth corps late in the afternoon of
the 31st.

The next day the rest of the army came up and were en-
gaged in thoroughly destroying the railroad. It was found that
Hardee's and Lee's corps had passed down from Atlanta to Jones-
boro on the 31st, leaving Stewart's in Atlanta with a large amount
of ammunition, supplies and railroad rolling stock. The two
rebel corps entrenched at Jonesboro, and late in the afternoon of
September 1st were attacked, and the works carried by Morgan's
division of the Fourteenth corps, the same who successfully as-
saulted at Kenesaw Mountain. They captured Govan's rebel
brigade entire. In the meantime the Fourth corps was coming
in on the left of the Fourteenth, but on account of the late hour
and the difficult underbrush which they were obliged to force their
way through, could accomplish very little. Newton's division
came in behind their right flank, capturing a hospital and a num-
ber of prisoners, but owing to the darkness got no farther. In
this affair the regiment lost one wounded and thirteen prisoners,
the latter taken after dark at the same moment that rebels were
surrendering to others of the regiment but a few yards distant.
It seemed to be a case of where the first who called halt was
the superior force. That night we could hear heavy firing in the
direction of Atlanta. At dawn the rebels had left our front, and
we learned that the "firing" on the night before was the destruc-
tion of ammunition on the evacuation of the "Gate City of the

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 181

South." The army followed Hood as far as Lovejoy's, where it
again found him intrenched.

The object of the campaign having been attained, on Sep-
tember 5th we returned to the interior of the city, which for two
months had been "so near and yet so far."

The loss of the regiment during August and September was
one killed', two wounded and thirteen prisoners. Loss of the
army, killed and missing, 1,408; wounded, 3,731; total, 5,139.
The total loss of the regiment from May 14th to September 4th
inclusive, was, killed, thirty-one; wounded, one hundred and thir-
teen; prisoners, nineteen; a grand total of one hundred and sixty-
three. As before stated, these figures are taken from the entries
of a diary on each day. There were undoubtedly a number of
the wounded who died, and it may be true also of some of the six
noted as prisoners at Kenesaw. Notwithstanding the entire sum-
mer had been spent in almost one continual action, and the rebel
army had been forced south about 135 miles, what decided ad-
vantage had been gained? With which of the opposing armies
rested a decided victory? It remained for Geo. H. Thomas,
with the troops that Maj.-Gen. Grant feared could not be got
out of the Chattanooga trenches to attack Bragg, until Gen.
Sherman, with the Army of the Tennessee, had shown them
the way and inspired them with confidence; it remained for these
men to put the coup de grace on Hood's army at Nashville, while
their former comrades in arms and exemplars were on a pleasure
trip to salt water.

By reference to Fox's Regimental Losses it is found that among
the heaviest losses in certain battles are mentioned the following
at Kenesaw Mountain, but which also includes other losses near
the mountains:

Reg't Div. Killed. Wounded. Missing. Agg.

40th Ind., Newton's 34 125 10 169

74th 111. " 21 58 10 89

113th Ohio, Davis' 27 121 5 153

121st " " 22 125 147

125th 111., " 47 52 5 104

86th " " 29 75 12 116

103rd " Harrow's 22 51 73

Col. Fox, in the work referred to, has taken the muster in
and muster out roll of every regiment, and traced the history of
each man. Where a soldier was wounded he has traced out the

182 SIXTH REUNION OF THE

result, and if he died is included among the killed; similarly,
where a soldier was reported and dropped as missing in action,
he has found out what actually became of him — whether dead or
a prisoner. As some may not see this most interesting publica-
tion, a few extracts comparing the losses of the commands with
which the Seventy-fourth was associated, may be of interest.
To show what we so fortunately escaped at Perry ville, Ky. , the
losses on that field in the Twenty-second Indiana and Seventy-
fifth Illinois are given:

Reg't Killed. Wounded, Missing. Agg.

22nd Ind 49 87 23 159

75th 111 46.... 167 12 225

At Chickamauga, the regiments of our division (Davis') of
the Twentieth corps lost as follows:

Reg't Killed. Wounded. Missing. Agg.

8th Kan 30 165 25 220

21st 111 , 32 144 62 238

25th " ..10 171 24 205

35th " 17 130 13 160

The losses during their entire term of service of the follow-
ing regiments were as follows:

Killed. Died of v~tn\

Died of Wounds. accidents, prison.

22nd Ind 153 190 343

36th 111...'. 204 128 332

44th " ' 135 157 292

59th " 109 121 230

73rd " 114 157 271

74th " 83 119 202

75th " 97 208 305

88th " 103 88 191

2nd Mo 91 97 188

15th " 115 107 222

21st Mich 83 294 377

24th Wis Ill 90 201

125th Ohio.. ..111.. ..114... ...225

Proceedings Ninth Reunion

September 4, 1594, Rocftford, Illinois

PRESENT 114.

BUSINESS MEETING.

The business meeting of the regiment was convened at G.
A. R. Hall, Rockford, 111., pursuant to notice, Tuesday, Septem-
ber 4th, 1894, at 11:00 o'clock, a. m., and was called to order by
President John H. Sherratt. In the absence of the secretary,
Hosmer P. Holland was elected secretary /;-# tern.

Minutes of last meeting of the society were read and ap-
proved.

Upon motion, it was unanimously agreed that the matter of
holding further brigade reunions of the regiments mustered in at
Camp Fuller be indefinitely postponed. Treasurer T. W. Cole
made his report, showing cash on hand $19.20, and such report
was approved.

The regiment then proceeded to elect officers for the ensu-
ing year, and the result was as follows:

JOHN H. SHERRATT, President.

VICE-PRESIDENTS.

J. S. Cowen -. Company A

A. W. Thompson " B

Robert Simpson " C

John Beatson " D

B. F. Butler «• E

Levi S. Sanders " F

N. C. Burroughs « G

Oscar Franklin " H

Jacob Wagner " I

Horace B. Utter « K

HOSMER P. HOLLAND, Secretary.
THOS. W. COLE, Treasurer.

184 NINTH REUNION OF THE

It was unanimously agreed that the next — the tenth — annual
reunion of the society be held at Rockford, 111., September 4th,
1895.

Upon motion, the president, secretary and treasurer were
appointed a committee to compile and publish, in pamphlet form,
the proceedings of this reunion. Adjourned to meet at camp-
fire of the regiment at 8:00 p. m.

Camp-fire, G. A. R. Hall, Tuesday evening, September 4th,
the president of the association, John H. Sherratt, presiding.
The president, upon calling the meeting to order, read the fol-
lowing telegrams, received from the Ninety-second and Ninety-
fifth Illinois, which regiments were at the same time holding re-
unions, and these telegrams being in answer to messages of con-
gratulation wired to them by President Sherratt:

STILLMAN VALLEY, 111., September 4th, 1894.
To JOHN H. SHERRATT, Seventy-fourth Illinois Volunteers'
Reunion: — Your fraternal greeting received. The Ninety-second
Illinois unanimously return the same, and wish you a joyful re-
union. J. D. WHITE, President.

BELVIDERE, 111.. September 4, 1894.

To J. H. SHERRATT: — Congratulations received. Accept
thanks and cordial greeting. C. BLOOD, Presiding.

He then said that this was the ninth time that the members
of the Seventy-fourth Illinois had met together in reunion — eight
times as a regiment and once with the Camp. Fuller brigade.
That the attendance was somewhat smaller than usual, owing no
doubt to the hard times preventing those from a distance from
coming; and owing also to the fact that each year there are few-
er of us to attend. That those who were here had taken every-
thing in and reaped all of the enjoyment that the occasion af-
forded, not only for themselves but for all of those who would
like to have been here; that thay aimed to represent, not only
themselves, but the whole crowd present and absent; that this
was the habit acquired during the war, when those who were
present for duty at any time, or any where, and notably at Stone
River, Mission Ridge, Kenesaw and Franklin, always spoke for
the whole regiment, and always in a language that could not be
misunderstood.

He said that the mayor of the city, Amasa Hutchins, was
present; that he was here, not only as the mayor, but in the high-
er capacity of a comrade; that he would call upon him for the

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 185

opening address; that he knew we were more than welcome to
the city, a city that had never failed to appreciate and recognize
the services of the Union soldier, yet it would be pleasant to be
officially assured of the fact.

ADDRESS OF WELCOME.

BY AMASA HUTCHINS, MAYOR OF ROCKFORD, ILL.

Mr. Chairman and Comrades: The president has well said
that the members of the Seventy-fourth need no welcoming ad-
dress by the mayor of Rockford.

It is only a formality. I know that the citizens of Rockford
and vicinity are always anxious to show their appreciation of any
gathering of the boys in blue of '61 and '65, and especially so of
the members of the Seventy-fourth, for there was scarcely a home
in Winnebago county that did not have some loved one taken
from it to make up the old Seventy-fourth.

I have heard a great many remark that the boys who wore
the little button on the lapel of their coats were in politics too
much.

I always ask such men the question, "who has a better
right?" We fought for and saved the country, and have as much
interest as any other citizen in the welfare of this government.

I have always been in politics, and I do not see any reason
for getting out. I think it the duty of every good citizen to
study politics, and vote as they think best.

The pension question is being agitated more of late than in
former years. Many have been dropped from the pension roll
for various reasons or pretended reasons. Some have been ask-
ed to furnish more evidence; and I think to ask more evidence
this late day is wrong. Every pensioner has been examined by
different boards of examiners for the last thirty years, and to fur-
nish more evidence in most cases would be impossible. I believe
that every man that served in the late civil war is entitled to a
pension. Comrades, I think I can see a change of heart in some
people in the South, and I believe the people of the South are
feeling differently towards the North than they used to, and that
the change is growing rapidly. I listened to a speech delivered
by Gen. Gordon a few days ago, at Madison, Wis., in which he

186 NINTH REUNION OF THE

said: "The boys in gray fought against the stars and stripes; at
that time they thought they were in the right, but they were mis-
taken. The boys in blue fought for the Union and maintained
it; they were in the right. I can say to you to-day that the boys
in gray will stand shoulder to shoulder with the boys in blue and
fight for the flag, and law and order.

It is not for me, at this time, to give you a history of the
battles that we taok part in. That has been left to comrade
Black, one whom we all know, and who can give you as good
an account of the different campaigns that we took part in as any
one in the Seventy-fourth.

So, in behalf of the citizens of Rockford I welcome you, be-
cause you are loyal to our country, loyal to home, loyal to your-
selves, and loyal to law and order. Hence, I bid you welcome,
thrice welcome, to our city.

The comrades and company present then sang "Marching
through Georgia."

The president said that when he was a boy one of his class-
mates at school was W. H. Brydges, that they enlisted together
in Co. K, called, and why, he never knew, the Y. M. C. A. com-
pany. Perhaps comrade Brydges could tell. He would call up-
on him for a response to the address of the mayor.

COMRADE BRYUGES' RESPONSE.

Mr. Mayor: Your kindly words and hearty welcome intensify
within us feelings of pleasure mingled with those of pride and
sadness. On this anniversary day we meet as representatives of
a regiment gathered from the farms, the workshops, the schools
and the homes of this beautiful valley. In yonder camp we were
schooled in the art of war, and fitted for impending duties.
While there, the citizens of Rockford were our friends, and their
friendship deepened through the intervening years. On that
memorable Sunday morning, when we started for the front, their
good-bye evinced a tender solicitude. Their hopes and prayers
followed us in our hardships and dangers. Many an encourag-
ing letter and loving deed attested their sympathy and their de-
votion to the cause which we had espoused. When our flag was
tattered and torn and begrimed by the smoke of battle, they sent
us a new one, which our brave boys carried up the slopes and

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 187

planted on the very crest of Missionary Ridge; amid shot and
shell and the shout of Victory. When the conflict was over, and
the surviving remnant returned in honor, they gave them such a
welcome, such evidence of appreciation, that the occasion will
never be forgotten. Many times since we have shared their gen-
erous hospitality. Coming from our scattered homes we are
pleased to meet and greet each other again -in the city that has
always befriended us — a city ever true to its convictions of duty,
and whose enterprise and intelligence have made it a leader in
prosperity and progress. As you eloquently picture the glories
of the past, and point us to the beckoning future, extend to us
renewed congratulations, and bid us welcome in the name of your
fellow citizens, we reverently bow in grateful recognition of their
continued kindnesses and their sacrifices in behalf of liberty and
national unity.

\Ylu-n the Seventy-fourth was called to duty the war had ac-
tually begun, and been in progress more than a year. Many
battles had been fought, many dear ones had fallen. No longer
was the subjugation of the South regarded as a mere holiday pas-
time. The Southern soldier, on many a hotly contested field,
had displayed a valor and a heroism worthy of a nobler cause.
Those who enlisted then felt the gravity of the situation; had
some conception of the stern duties that awaited them. Yet they
did not waver, but led by the promptings of a pure patriotism,
they went forth in the strength of manhood, defenders of the re-
public which had become the hope of the world. Some of them
were born across the sea, but they were Americans in thought
and spirit, and believed in upholding American institutions and
rendering obedience to American law.

We feel pardonable pride in having been permitted to play
even a humble part in the great drama of national existence; in
the spread of liberty throughout the earth; in enhancing the sig-
nificance, the power and the splendor of "Old Glory."

We are saddened by the thought that brother had to war
against brother; that so many of our beloved associates who re-
sponded to their country's call never returned; that so many
homes all over this broad land have been made desolate that the
shackles of human slaves might be broken, that the old flag
might be preserved in all its beautiful symmetry, "not a stripe
erased or polluted; not a single star obscured."

188 NINTH REUNION OF THE

A generation has passed since we were formally mustered
into the service of the United States. Our deeds as soldiers and
civilians have become a part of the written and of the unwritten
history of the country; a part of the nation's life and character.
As patriotic citizens we must be loyal to every factor of nation-
al greatness and grandeur. While we magnify our nation's
achievements and possibilities, we must not forget that she is be-
set by dangers seen and unseen. Eternal vigilance must con-
tinue to be our watchword.

Great industrial and governmental problems confront us
and demand a just and last solution. Our country must be kept
in the vanguard of nations by banishing her weaknesses and fos-
tering her virtues.

My comrades, our ranks are thinning; our working hours
are rapidly passing. Let us stand together and touch elbows in
the cause of country and humanity; true to the right, as we are
permitted to see the right, ever remembering that

" True worth is in being, not seeming —

In doing each day that goes by
Some little good : — not in the dreaming
Of great things to do by and bye."

May we be encouraged and strengthened day by day by the
ever-present conviction that "a noble deed is a step toward
God."

Dr. W. D. McAffee being discovered in the crowd was call-
ed upon for a song, and responded with " Ise gwine back to
Dixie," which he rendered in his best vein; eliciting the hearty
applause of his audience.

In the absence of comrade Edward Black, of Jesup, Iowa,
secretary Holland read the following paper, prepared by Mr.
Black, on the Franklin campaign :

THE FRANKLIN CAMPAIGN.

BY EDWARD BLACK.

The Georgia campaign, beginning at Tunnel Hill upon the
morning of May 7th, and ending at Lovejoy's Station on the
night of September 7, 1864, gave to the Union forces the posses-
sion of Atlanta, the famed Gate City of the Confederacy. During
this time at no place were the Confederate commanders able to

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 181)

shake the mighty grip which Gen. Sherman placed upon them.
This close contact produced almost continuous skirmishing, and
not a single day passed without fighting and artillery firing upon
some portion of the lines.

Practically it was one hundred and twenty-four days of bat-
tle, and put a physical strain upon the men probably unequalled
in the annals of war. You of the Seventy-fourth will remem-
ber those toilsome days and sleepless nights, where danger lurk-
ed in every shadow, where at times one could not expose a square
inch of his body without taking the greatest risk of getting a bul-
let shot into him by the nearby and watchful enemy.

You will remember the constant watchful care and vigilance
needful to protect ourselves individually and collectively. You
cannot forget that sometimes days and weeks went by without
your removing your shoes or any part of your clothing.

You will not forget the exposed positions under the broiling
Georgia sun, or the chill of the night air.

All that we suffered and endured was also borne by the 100,-
000 men of that grand army that was moving with sure and cer-
tain steps to the everlasting downfall of the Confederacy.

Thus it was that the utter physical exhaustion of his men
compelled Gen. Sherman to call a halt for the much needed rest
and recuperation. The permanent occupation of this region was
looked forward to; new ventures had already been thought of,
and supplies of all kinds were needed. Atlanta might be used
as a new base of operations; and above all the enemy had been
so thoroughly beaten it was not thought they were likely to soon
give much trouble. This, then, was the opportunity of which
our commander availed himself to retire from the immediate
presence of the enemy and recuperate his forces.

The army was recalled from Lovejoy's Station, a point thirty
miles south of Atlanta, to the vicinity of the city. You will re-
member our moving out from Lovejoy's in the midst of a severe
rainstorm at 11:00 o'clock on the night of September 7th, and
marching northward through the mud in Egyptian darkness to
the vicinity of Jonesboro, where we went into camp in a grove
of oaks just before daylight.

Morning light revealed the fact that we were occupying
ground whereon our cavalry had fought a severe battle, and in
fact had been beaten during the Stoneman raid.

190 NINTH REUNION OF THE

Broken saddles and accoutrements lay scattered about the
fields and woods. The skeletons of many horses lay bleaching
in the sun, while here and there lay a skull or a few bones with
shreds of blue cloth attached, telling us the fate of unknown com-
rades sleeping their last sleep. Pinned to the trees we found
slips of paper with scribbling upon them abusing all Yankees,
Sherman's cavalry in particular, and threatening all who wore
blue clothes with a like fate with the killed of this command.

Later we were glad to resume our march from such grue-
some surroundings, and next afternoon, September 9th, found
us in camp a few rods in advance of the position we had held
during the siege of Atlanta.

With the usual energy of the Union soldiers the ground was
cleaned up, and beautiful bowers were built over the tents.
Hedges of pine, the entrances graceful and imposing arches,
were built around some of the regimental camps. New clothing
and shoes had been procured. Sutlers had arrived, and for the
usual percentage were distributing some of the necessaries and
conveniences of civilization. In fact, the boys were becoming
satisfied and settling down to solid comfort.

Matters were really too fine with us; we were too well fixed,
and it could not last.

At exactly noon on Sunday, September 25th, having jus
listened to an appropriate sermon by Chaplain Pettibone, the
bugles blew the strike tents call, and immediately the fall in call.
This was something unusual, even for those days of wild alarm.
The guards on picket were sent for, and down came tents and
bowers, the work and skill of days being instantly destroyed. In
a few minutes our belongings were packed and slung, our mus-
kets taken in hand, and we were marching towards the city. On
the way we learned that our destination was the union depot,
where we arrived in one hour and twelve minutes by the watch
from the moment the bugle blew the first call, the distance from
camp to depot being two miles. This was called lively work,
and that, too, at a time when men were being moved with
celerity.

Engineers, locomotives and cars could not, or would not,
be moved with the military promptness of the troops, and we had
to wait some time before the cars were ready for us to board.
While waiting we further learned that we were to be sent north-

SEVENTY- FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT.

ward to Chattanooga, or possibly Nashville. At last we steam-
ed out, the trains being much overloaded and overcrowded.
Our progress was slow during the night ride over that historic
ground. Marietta, Kenesaw, Allatoona, Adairsville, Resaca,
Dalton, Ringgold, and other never to be forgotten names, were
stations upon our route.

Early next day we safely arrived and disembarked from the
trains near Chattanooga, thus in one night returning over the
same ground that it had taken four months of the best effort of
one of the finest armies ever marshaled on earth to gain.

The entire division had been sent northward from Atlanta,
and division headquarters were now established in Chattanooga.

A division of the Twenty-third corps was. about the same
time, sent on to Nashville, and finally to Johnsonville, but did
.not arrive at the latter place until after it had been captured by
Forrest and the immense stores destroyed. Here, at Chatta-
nooga, we learned that the rebel general, Hood, was moving
northward, having crossed the Chattahoochie a short distance
south-west of Atlanta, and having already flanked Sherman's
army was now between that force and the Tennessee river. At
just what point he would strike was very uncertain. All points
on the Georgia and East Tennessee, and Memphis and Charleston
railroads south of the river were in danger and threatened by
Hood's main army, while the country toward Nashville, includ-
ing the two lines of railroad which Gen. Sherman depended on
for supplies, was raided by the rebel cavalry. The railroads
between Decatur and Nashville and Stevenson and Nashville
were cut and torn up in a dozen places, guards were captured,
and block houses burned.

Johnsonville, on the Tennessee river, south-west of Nash-
ville, was captured by the rebel general, Forrest, and the im-
mense supplies stored there were burned. Hood was using the
same tactics to drive back Gen. Sherman that had been used two
years previously by Bragg when he raced across Tennessee and
Kentucky to the Ohio, compelling the Union forces to follow-
While tbese active movements were taking place, our division
was kept almost constantly on the cars, and moving from one
threatened point to another. We in reality patrolled the roads
from Resaca to Huntsville, at one time going as far north as
Cowan Station, on the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad. Al-

192 NINTH REUNION OF THE

latoona was attacked, Resaca and Dalton were captured, and the
bridges on the Chickamauga, twelve miles from Chattanooga,
were burned. We expected, of course, to be called in to Chat-
tanooga for the defense of that important stronghold; but the
wily Hood did not come further north than Rome, Georgia, with
his main force, the burning of the bridges and capture of the
small garrisons having been entrusted to his advanced columns.
Meantime, Sherman had followed rapidly and arrived at Mariet-
ta in time to signal from Kenesaw to Gen. Corse, at Allatoona,
that he was coming, in this way encouraging Gen. Corse and
his troops to stand out in the heroic defense of that place. It
seems that Gen. Sherman had hoped to corner Hood in the nooks
of the mountains near Chattanooga. The wary Hood was not
to be caught in this way, and held position near Rome until the
destruction of bridges and capture of garrisons along the railroad
was accomplished. He then moved leisurely out of and around
the mountains by way of Talladega and Blue Mountain into
northern Alabama, and eventually to Columbia, Franklin and
Nashville. Hood's movement south and west from the vicinity
of Rome, Georgia, at once gave communication with Sherman's
army, and we were relieved from duty on the cars, but not before
we met with a sad accident, in which two members of the Seven-
ty-fourth lost their lives and several were severely injured.

The railroads were now rapidly repaired and soon put in or-
der as far south as Atlanta. Gen. Thomas had established head-
quarters at Nashville, and at once began the work of collecting
troops at this point for the defense of Tennessee.

Gen. Wagner had been assigned to the command of our di-
vision, and about October 17th we were ordered to join the corps
then with Gen. Sherman on the Chattooga river, near Rome,
Georgia. Before starting, however, some of the boys of the Sev-
enty-fourth were furloughed and returned to their homes for a
short visit, and to vote for Lincoln.

However, in obedience to orders we started, and marched
through the old Chickamauga battlefield during the night, reach-
ing Lee and Gordon's Mills at daylight, and, after breakfast, con-
tinuing on southward towards LaFayette and Alpine, reaching
the latter place, I think, on the 19th. Here we were ordered to
remain and forage the country. This job was most thoroughly
done, not only in an official way but also by private enterprise.

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 193

Never elsewhere had we taken such liberties with sweet potato
patches and fat pigs; and when the people complained to Gen.
Wagner he told them that was all right, we were there to drain
that country dry and prevent the people from feeding the guer-
illas who were in hiding in that vicinity.

We remained at Alpine until October 28th, when we were
joined by the other two divisions of the Fourth corps, all moving
northward again, and arriving at Chattanooga on the 31st. We
were to be sent to Middle Tennessee to oppose the advance of
Hood, and to join the forces which Gen. Thomas was gathering
in that region. In June, of 1865, I heard Gen. Sherman who
was making a speech from the balcony of the old Tremont House
in Chicago (in answer to a query from a soldier in the street why
he had sent the Fourth corps to Tennessee instead of taking it
on that picnic to the sea) say that he had to send some troops
that he could trust or depend on, and that, after he had heard
how they had done at Franklin and Nashville, he felt satisfied
that no others would so well have answered the purpose. "Jti
fact," (with a twinkle in his eye) "I could not have done better
myself," he added.

And this, comrades, is the only reason I have ever heard
given why it was the Fourth instead of the Twentieth or Four-
teenth or some other corps that was selected to go back. One
division of the Twenty-third corps had been sent back early, and
the balance of that corps was also to go. On the afternoon of
November 1st we again boarded the cars, and were taken byway
of Huntsville and Decatur to Athens, Alabama. This line of
road, which had been broken, was not yet fully repaired, and in
fact no further attempts were made to do so until after the battle
of Nashville.

Athens, or at least the creek one mile south of the place,
was as far as the trains could run, the bridge being burned. The
bridges over the Elk, a few miles north of Athens, had also been
destroyed and were not repaired. The railroad was in running
order, however, south from Nashville through Columbia to Pu-
laski, Tennessee. The latter place we were now bound for; and
during the day the trains carrying the balance of the troops of
our corps arrived, and all moved out through a dreary rainstorm,
which turned to sleet and snow, a few miles to camp. Snow
fell to the depth of three inches during the night, and the march

194 NINTH REUNION OF THE

was not resumed until nearly noon of the next day. We march-
ed on through mud and slush until late that evening, and next
day, November 4th, at noon, reached the Elk river. The trains
and animals, except a couple of batteries belonging to the corps,
had been sent up the other railroad from Stevenson to Cowan
Station, and from there were driven across to Pulaski. Thus we
had no means of crossing the Elk, which we found to be boom-
ing high with the rains and the melting snow. There was no
other way but to plunge in and wade that icy flood.

The men took off their clothing and tied up bundles to
be carried on the ends of, the muskets, thereby insuring dry
raiment when they should emerge from their unwilling bath.
The water was right up to the necks of the shorter men, and ice
cold; in fact, patches of snow still lay upon the fields. All cross-
ed in this way, members of the Seventy-fourth making it safely,
though there were a few reports of drowning in other regiments.

While crossing, Gen. Wagner, seeing the exhausted condi-
tion of the men, and ever mindful of their comfort, had ordered
some old buildings on the north bank to be set on fire. These
being of heavy oak frames made very hot and lasting fires, before
which the men warmed themselves and replaced their clothing,
which they had carried over dry, and soon continued the march
northward towards Pulaski, which was reached the next morn-
ing, November 5th, we having camped near town the previous
night. Here an extensive system of fortifications was begun,
and after working on them several days was abandoned. Here
also we were joined by a portion of the Twenty-third corps, Gen.
Schofield having command of all forces in the field, Gen. Thom-
as still holding headquarters at Nashville, and directing opera-
tions from that point. We left Gen. Hood with the rebel army
at Talladega and Blue Mountain, Alabama, about October 15th.
He continued his movement toward the Tennessee river around
the spurs of the mountain, and reached the vicinity of Florence,
Alabama, about the same date as our arrival at Pulaski. There
he remained several days, gathering supplies and making pre-
parations to cross the Tennessee at Muscle Shoals. In this he
was opposed by the Union cavalry under Gen. Hatch and other
officers. During the last week of our stay at Pulaski we almost
daily heard the booming of cannon on the banks of the Tennes-
see, fifty miles distant, where the rebels were attempting to cross,

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 195

While here at Pulaski we were joined by the balance of the
artillery belonging to the Fourth corps and all its wagon trains,
which had come around by Cowan Station and Fayetteville.
Thus the forces again began to take on the appearance of a com-
pletely equipped army.

We remained at Pulaski until the morning of the 22nd,
when we were hurriedly ordered out at 2:00 a. m., moving north
to Linnville, remaining there until 3:00 o'clock, a. m., of the
24th, when the entire forces were rapidly marched (I might say
raced) to Columbia. The cause of those hurried night marches
was the fact that Hood had crossed the Tennessee river, driven
back the Union cavalry, and was moving rapidly on parallel
roads, with a view of reaching Columbia in advance of the Union
forces, thereby completely cutting them off from Nashville.

The advance of the Union forces arrived at Columbia in time
to prevent Hood's army from carrying out that design. The Confed-
erate advance had arrived full as early as any of the Union
troops, and had already attacked the small force of cavalry and
the garrison stationed there.

The rebels were coming in upon a road running east of
north, while we moved directly north. The cavalry, which had
been bringing up the rear, was hurried by us, and at once en-
gaged the enemy, which was making the attack. The infantry
was also rapidly brought up, and in a short time encircled the
town with a line reaching from the river above to the river be-
low the place, thus saving and protecting the crossings of the
Duck River.

An earthwork was thrown up, as the enemy appeared in
force and for three days threatened attack, and in fact did recon-
noitre in force, while at some points collisions occurred. It was
afterwards learned that those feints by the enemy were but tricks
to keep Gen. Schofield on the south bank of Duck River, while
the real object was to make a crossing above and gain the rear
of the Union army, again cutting us off from Nashville.

The evacuation of the position on the south bank of Duck
river commenced on the afternoon of the 27th, the last of the
force being withdrawn before daylight of the 29th. You will re-
member that our division crossed late in the evening of the 27th,
and remained in position on the north bank until the morning
of the 29th.

196 NINTH REUNION OF THE

While here, a squad of the boys who went home from Chat-
tanooga to vote arrived on the 28th, among them being John W.
Stewart, of Co. C, who was killed next day at Spring Hill.
While these movements were in progress by the Union army,
the Confederates were persistently active in completing the cross-
ing of Duck River. The Union cavalry had for several days been
upon the north bank of the stream, and were carefully watching
the fords and all available crossings. Still the rebel forces, who
outnumbered us in the proportion of nearly three to one, were
able to successfully lay their pontoons at a point about five miles
east of Columbia, on the evening of the 28th. The purpose of the
rebels was easily divined by Gen. Wilson of the cavalry, who
was watching closely. This crossing of the Confederates, while
we still lingered at the river near Columbia, made the situation
of Schofield's army perilous indeed. Gen. Wilson had given
Gen. Schofield timely warning, and urged him to fall back to
Franklin. Gen. Thomas, who had been apprised of the situa-
tion by Wilson, telegraped Gen. Schofield to fall back at once
to Franklin, leaving sufficient force at Spring Hill to contest the
enemy's progress until securely posted at Franklin. This tele-
gram was said to be as early as 3:30 a. m. of the 29th. Gen.
Stanley, commander of the Fourth corps, who had two years pre-
viously been chief of cavalry, Army of the Cumberland, and who
was familiar with every road and by-path in all that region, re-
alizing the extremely hazardous situation of the troops, had also
urged Gen. Schofield to move, and strenuously protested against
delay.

The indecision, apathy, over-confidence, or whatever it
might be, of Gen. Schofield, is strangely unexplained, and came
very near causing the greatest disaster of the war to the Union
arms. By the time the Union advance left the vicinity of Col-
umbia, at 8:30 a.m. of the 29th, the Confederates were miles ahead
of us and much nearer Franklin, which point both armies were
aiming for.

The baggage of the various posts and garrisons from the
Tennessee northward had been brought along and added to our
already large train of wagons until they became cumbrous in the
extreme, and proved a factor that, had it been taken advantage
of by the enemy, would have certainly caused the utter destruc-
tion of Gen. Schofield's army. You will remember we marched.

SEVENTY- FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 197

out with the Seventy-fourth, leading the column, the entire divi-
sion moving in advance of the train. The train was said to
number above one thousand wagons, and filled the road for near-
ly ten miles. The distance from Columbia to Spring Hill is
about fourteen miles.

Thus it will be seen that the troops were but leaving Colum-
bia when the head of the column arrived at Spring Hill. Un-
known to us at the time, Hood's main body was moving almost
side by side with us upon a road but two to four miles away, said
road converging or running into the Columbia pike (upon which
we were marching) at Spring Hill. This region is a fine open
country, and there was absolutely nothing to prevent the
rebels from marching down upon the thin line of troops, or upon
the train, at any point between Columbia and Spring Hill. I
have said that the Seventy-fourth led the advance, but there are
others who claim that honor, notably the men of the Sixty-
fourth Ohio. They claim to have been in advance, and to have
reached Spring Hill as early as 2:00 o'clock. This has gone
down in history, but is certainly incorrect. No troops were in
sight of us in the advance at any point. Gen. Stanley, the corps
commander, rode along with Col. Opdycke a good portion of
the distance. We saw no enemy, nor did we hear sounds of
battle as we approached Spring Hill.

The historians of the Sixty-fourth Ohio claim to have be-
come engaged with the rebel infantry south and east of the vil-
lage as early as a quarter past two o'clock, and that the battle
was most severe and lasting. It is true such a battle did take
place, but it was much later in the day. Those of the Seventy-
fourth who were present on that occasion both saw and heard
the gallant fight made by Bradley's brigade, and will bear me
out that it was but a continuation of the fight begun by ourselves.

Here I wish to say that the very best article that has yet
been published on this campaign is from the pen of J. H. Shel-
lenbarger, of tbe Sixty-fourth Ohio, now of Humboldt, Iowa.
He has undoubtedly given us a correct and able story as he saw
it, yet he is wide of the mark in asserting that the Sixty-fourth
Ohio led the advance that day.

Spring Hill was reached a few minutes before 3:00 o'clock.
On rising the hill upon which the village is built, a line of rebel
cavalry, reaching from northwest around to the east side of the
town, and about one-third of a mile therefrom, was seen.

198 NINTH REUNION OF THE

The sight of the rebels here, although not unexpected, was
somewhat surprising. They had completely beaten us in the
march, and now lay across the road, effectually blocking our pro-
gress towards Franklin. The exclamation of a comrade as we
neared the top of the hill in the village street, and he caught
sight of the rebel line, is most vividly remembered : "Boys,
they have got us like rats in a trap !" This was thought little of
at the moment; but had the enemy attempted what they did
next day, it would have proven absolutely correct. Immediate-
ly we formed a skirmish line right there in the streets, and before
we had reached the center of the village. Remembering this cir-
cumstance as well as though it happened last week, no man from
any other command will be allowed to say they held the ad-
vance.

On forming the skirmish line we with cheers moved rapidly
out on the advancing horsemen, who, after a few volleys, broke
and fell back to the eastward of town, there joining the rebel in-
fantry and commencing the attack upon the other brigades of
the division, which had by this time come up and taken position
on our right to the east and south-east side of town. Here the
Union troops were fiercely assailed, but most gallantly held the
enemy at bay until after dark, when the advance of other troops
began to arrive, and the enemy made no further attempts.

Fortunate indeed were the Union forces in having that skill-
ful and energetic officer, Gen. Stanley, present at this most crit-
ical juncture. Had the troops been less skillfully disposed, or
less ably handled, the attack by the enemy would have been al-
most certain to result successfully.

Even with slight success at this time and place, who will
dare limit the disaster to the Union army which must have fol-
lowed. During the time the skirmishing and fighting was taking
place, the immense wagon train which was moving up the road
from Columbia following our division could not proceed further,
and was corralled in our rear near the village.

Immediately following the train came a portion of the Twen-
ty-third corps, which, with a slight halt at Spring Hill, continu-
ed its march northward toward Franklin. Following these
troops, the train was again moved out, starting about 10:00
o'clock, p. m. Behind the train came the remainder of the force,
including artillery and a portion of the cavalry. Hood, in cross-

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 199

ing Duck river, had most skillfully divided Gen. Wilsons's cav-
alry, pushing a large portion of them to his right, thus coming
between them and the troops on or near the Columbia pike, and
forcing them to make a wide detour to again join Schofield be-
tween Spring Hill and Franklin.

All night train and troops moved by in our rear hastening
forward to hold and protect the crossing of the Harpeth River at
Franklin. By daylight of the 30th all were gone save our divi-
sion alone, which had remained all night watchful and alert on
the skirmish line and within a few paces of the enemy.

Just at daybreak the right of the division was called in, one
regiment following another and passing to the rear northward,
soon brought the consolidated Eighty-eighth and Seventy-fourth
regiments (who were on the extreme left) out to the road as rear
guard of the entire force. We were immediatly followed by the
enemy, and had not marched a mile before they were in sight in
close pursuit.

This pursuit was kept up until we reached Franklin, and
during this time they were out of sight scarcely a moment, em-
bracing every opportunity to dash up and fire upon us. At sev-
eral points the fire was returned with such marked success that
they skulked cautiously along the edges of timber and sheltering
hills just out of range. At 1:00 o'clock we reached the Winsted
hills, two miles south of Franklin, and the brigade was halted
here as a corps of observation, and remained until half-past two
o'clock, and until the enemy had flanked us and marched by up-
on a parallel road nearer the river, until they were fully one-half
mile nearer Franklin than were we.

This force that marched by us was a very large one,
and was afterwards ascertained to be Stewart's corps of Hood's
army. Upon our right, as well as in front of the Winsted hills,
could also be seen large bodies of the Confederates massing as
for attack.

Many writers of various commands have written of this march
for the columns of the National Tribune, claiming to have been
the last troops in, and placing the time of passing Spring Hill
from 3:00 to 9:00 o'clock on the morning of the 30th. They are
to a man sure they marched right by or through the camps of the
sleeping Confederates, and all saw the rebel guards walking
their beats before the fires. Many of them skirmished with the

200 NINTH REUNION OF THE

enemy all the way from Spring Hill to Franklin, and then did
wonders in defending the place from the overwhelming attack.

How such fellows got such absurd notions into their heads is
beyondthe comprehension ofthe writer. Men might honestly differ
about matters which they saw from different standpoints, but in
this case, where the facts are officially given, and well and cor-
rectly known by hundreds of the command, a fool should not err
therein. I have before me a copy of the Southern Bivouac for
June, 188o, with map of the battlefield of Franklin and story of the
pursuit of the Federal forces from Spring Hill, and battle of
Franklin on November 30, 1864, which agrees in every
particular as to occurrences, both time and place, on
that date with statements which have always been made
by members of our command. For a part of the way
between Spring Hill and the Winsted Hills, the writer had
charge (under the supervision of a brigade staff officer) of the
rear guard of perhaps a dozen men of the Seventy-fourth and
Eighty-eighth, and is ready to affirm that the aforesaid writers
and stragglers were not during that time seen by the Union
troops, and evidently were not found by the Confederates.
Scarcely one moment were the men of the Seventy-fourth out of
sight of the pursuing and fighting rebels from 3:00 o'clock of the
afternoon of the 29th until 11:00 o'clock of the night of the 30th,
and where these men could have come in is a mystery.

As before stated, the troops of the Twenty-third corps
marched on from Spring Hill during the early part of the night
of the 29th in advance of the wagon train, and as was afterwards
learned reached Franklin by daylight of the 30th. The village
is situated in a bend of the Harpeth, and here, across this bend,
a line extending from the river above town to the river below was
selected, and these tired men were at once set to work intrench-
ing. The men were so completely exhausted, having had not a
moment's rest for twenty-two hours, that slow progress was
made upon the earthwork, and the troops which followed the
train found it in very poor shape upon their arrival. Work was
continued, however, until the very moment of the attack, and
although still imperfect and a poor excuse, it was the salvation
of the Union army.

When Opdycke's brigade was halted at the Winsted Hills
the other two brigades of Wagner's division were moved up to

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 201

within one-third of a mile of the earthwork being built to cover
the town and crossings. Here they were posted, and through
the neglect or mismanagement of some one, were allowed to stay
and receive unaided and unprotected the full force of one of the
most tremendous assaults in all history.

At half-past two o'clock Opdycke's brigade was ordered to
fall back, and, it is said, to join the other two brigades in front
of the Union lines. Having closely observed the massing of an
unusually large force of the enemy in our immediate vicinity at
Winsted, and realizing, in fact knowing full well, what it meant,
Col. Opdycke positively refused to remain in this exposed situa-
tion with the other brigades ; not only refused to join the others,
but most earnestly urged their withdrawal. The consequence
was that Opdycke was finally ordered inside the works, to take
position in the rear of the Carter buildings, and there remain as
a reserve. Doubtless that resolution of Col. Opdycke's to take us,
not to a place of shelter or safety, but to a position where we
might have at least a fighting show for our lives, saved many lives
in the regiments of his brigade. Here there was but a handful
of the Seventy-fourth left; but who can tell how many would
have remained to tell the tale had the brigade been left in the
outer exposed position.

Little did we think as we marched in on the Columbia pike
what a few minutes would bring forth. While knowing well that
ample prepartions had been made, and that it was more than
probable a collision would occur, we had yet to learn that a bat-
tle of the first magnitude would be instantly launched in its wild-
est fury upon us. The rapidity and promptness with which the
rebel commander formed his lines showed that he had the utmost
confidence in his ability to crush the Union forces. While it can
never be accurately known just how many of the Union forces
were upon the south side of the river, it is morally certain they
did not exceed 11,000 men, and of these not more than two-thirds,
or less than 8,000, received the overwhelming assault of the 28,-
000 Confederates, backed by 10,000 men in reserve, who were
brought into the later assaults. This tremendous force was
massed and driven by converging their lines upon a portion of
the Federal earthworks less than five hundred yards in extent.
Upon this space of not more than twenty acres the battle was
fought, and here in the space of three hours were more Confed-

202 NINTH REUNION OF THE

erates killed than in any battle of the war, Gettysburg alone ex-
cepted.

As before stated, Opdycke's brigade was brought inside the
lines and placed in reserve in rear of the Carter buildings upon
the west side of the Columbia pike. We reached this position
at not far from a quarter past three o'clock, and had just stacked
arms and were ordered to prepare coffee and something to eat,
(having had no opportunity to so much as build a fire since day-
light of the 29th) when a cannon-shot from the Confederates
came screaming through our ranks, striking one of the Eighty-
eighth boys in the writer's company upon the leg, and passing on
striking a spade which had been stuck into the ground when the
line halted, cutting off the handle as squarely as it could have
been done by a saw, then hitting and breaking the leg of a pack
horse upon which were our blankets and cooking utensils, and
thence dancing upon the ground to the rear without doing fur-
ther damage.

This shot evidently was the signal for assault, and following
it rose, shrill and piercing, the rebel yell, the same identical never-
to-be-forgotten yell we had heard upon a score of battlefields,
thus leaving us in no doubt whatever of the intention of the ene-
my. Every man knew what wascomiug, and what would be ex-
pected of him.

There was no alternative; we must fight or perish. Instant-
ly, and without orders, every man stepped into place and grasp-
ed his musket, and the line moved directly forward, starting be-
fore the brigade or regimental officers could mount their horses.

Meantime the oncoming rebels had struck the two brigades
posted in front of the line, breaking, driving and running over
them, capturing nearly 1.000 prisoners. Here the mistake of
leaving those men in this exposed situation became apparent.
As they came running back towards the earth works the men
therein were loath to fire, and cannon and musket remained si-
lent during those moments that were more than precious. The
Confederate officers, seeing their advantage, shouted to their
men: "Go in with the Yanks; go in with the Yanks," and this
they accomplished, breaking and holding the line on both sides
of the Columbia pike for a distance of two hundred yards, cap-
turing two four-gun batteries with the guns still loaded, turning
them right and left in an enfilading fire upon the Union lines, and
serving them as long as the ammunition lasted.

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 203

Immediately in our front were stationed two new regiments,
which of course gave way before this awful rush. In fact, look-
ing at it from the standpoint of these men, many of whom had
never seen a gun fired in action, it seemed as hopeless to at-
tempt to check the Confederates as to hold back Niagara. Those
regiments, abandoning all hope of resistance, together with the
men driven in from the front, the rebels among and following
them with the utmost fury, bore down upon us

In this awful conflict orders could not be heard, but, as be-
fore stated, the men of Opdycke's brigade knew exactly what
was needed and wanted of them. The ranks were opened and
the fugitives allowed to pass through, many of them, especially
those of Lane's brigade, turning and moving up with us. Thus
it was that our perfect ranks met in the yards around Carter's
buildings the exultant, determined rebels, with a shock that would
seem to make worlds reel. From the moment of forming their
lines the Confederates had felt an absolute certainty of victory.
As events progressed, and the game all came into their hands,
it must have seemed to them that the battle was already won.

Hence it was that the obtrusiveness of Opdycke's men in
poking their noses and muskets in their faces in this, as they
thought, moment of victory, but maddened them to demoniacal
fury.

At other poins to the right and left of the break in the line,
the Union troops stood fast with a resolution and determination
never surpassed upon any battlefield of history, and beat back
or held the overwhelming flood of Confederates. All circum-
stances seemed to conspire to make more furious the men with
whom we had to deal. So complete was the breach, so exten-
sive the captured line, it seemed the wildest presumption to at-
tempt to recover loss or repair the damage. Already the victory
was within their grasp, and the total wreck or annihilation of
the Union army was easily within the possibilities and probabil-
ities of that moment. Those, comrades, were among the condi-
tions under which you met the enemies of your country upon
that eventful day. We are told that when Greek meets Greek
then comes the tug of war. You found the truth of this old saw
in the bewildering, maddening struggle which followed; a strug-
gle which ended by the enemy being killed, captured or thrust
back over the works, there to lie almost at our mercy (because,

204 NINTH REUNION OF THE

in the humble opinion of the writer, there never was a ghost of
a chance for them to win after the first grand assault whose suc-
cessful center had been driven back by Opdycke's brigade), un-
til utter weariness and exhaustion put an end to the conflict.

How it was done no man can tell; but certain it is blows
were struck such as had never been struck before. All felt they
were fighting infuriated demons, and fought for their lives.
With the courage of desperation each and every one did his best,
and none shrank from the consequences to which utter reckless-
ness exposed them. All seemed to be imbued with the spirit of
Col. Opdpcke's famous saying: "Here, men, we drive them
back, or from here we go to heaven." As before stated, we
must fight or perish; or rather this reserve brigade must fight
and win, or the army must perish.

Deeds of matchless courage and heroism which should bring
everlasting crowns of laurel, were too common to notice. The
valor of those old Spartan bands at Thermopylae and Marathon
comes down to us in legend and story through the mists of twen-
ty-four centuries as examples of resolution and devotion, of cour-
age never to be equalled while man existeth upon the earth.

Yet I firmly believe that no one who looked on with his
natural eyes and witnessed that supreme effort, that frightful
deathly contest at Franklin, on that November day thirty years
ago, will for a moment think that soldierly courage or devotion
has in the least degenerated from the high standard of those old
heroic days. Neither will they believe the high mark there set
will readily be reached or overtopped by those who are to fol-
low. It is not to be understood, however, that the gallantry or
courage or heroism brought out in this battle was all upon one
side or under one flag. The men who wore the grey, misguided
though they were, are not in soldierly bearing to be disparaged,
and their deeds were worthy a far better cause; and in these men,
comrades, you surely found foemen worthy of your steel.

While it is certain that all will deplore the awful results on
this occasion, that none will feel exultant or boastful over the
misery of a fallen foe or the friends left to mourn them, yet it
could not be otherwise, and I am glad, nay proud, that you,
comrades, you and your companions, were equal to the emer-
gency.

The writer esteems it a high privilege, a proud honor, to be

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 205

allowed to call comrades the men of the Seventy-fourth who here
filled the breach, who stood in the very center of this ' awful
whirlpool of battle, freely offering their lives and doing their full
share of the work necessary to drive the exultant foe from the
vantage ground, and wrest from his grasp the victory already
considered won.

Major Sanders, of French's (Confederate) division, who
writes the article upon Franklin for Southern Bivouac, speaks of
the charge in these words: "Opdycke's brigade, in reserve near
the Carter house, at once rushed to the captured line and in a
fierce and bloody combat heroically regained the entrenched line
at the Columbia pike and held it. Here the conflict raged with
intense fury, the struggle for the possession of the works being
maintained with great stubbornness and tenacity, the combat-
ants in the fur}' of the bloody strife fighting with bayonets and
clubbed muskets. These reserves saved the day to Schofield,
and rescued the broken and captured center of his line with a
gallantry and heroism reflecting honor on the uniform they wore
and the flag under which they fought."

With the reoccupation of the earthworks along the line of
the broken center by the Union troops, the Confederate troops,
which had been driven back, sought shelter close up to and un-
der them, upon the opposite side, and here many of them remain-
ed until the retreat of the Union troops at 11:00 o'clock, p. m.
Meantime those which had been driven back out of range along
the whole line had reformed, and with the reserves repeated the
assault again, and again and again, each time, however, growing
weaker and weaker, while with every effort their losses became
greater. With nothing in the way, as had been the case with the
first assault, the fire of the Union guns at short range over the
open front of their lines, became simply murderous. Hundreds
of men were shot to rags, and torn out of all semblance of human
shape. The wounded, falling in the various assaults, were left
lying over that smooth meadow helpless where they fell, and in
the succeeding attacks were run over and trampled to death by
their friends. They, too were exposed continually to the terri-
ble and deadly fire from the Union lines. Their pleadings for
help, which could not be rendered, were pitiful indeed.

Many of the Union regiments were armed with the improved
repeating arms, notably Casement's brigade of the Twenty-third

206 NINTH REUNION OF THE

corps, and were able to deliver a fire that seemed a living fringe
of flame. Here in front of Casement's command the Confeder-
ates officially declare that in the whole history of war men were
never killed and wounded with the rapidity which the troops of
Walthall's division suffered in this attack upon him.

And still the Confederate commander was unsatisfied and
undismayed. Broken batallions were reformed, and again and
again was the attack renewed, until darkness and utter weariness
put an end to the sickening slaughter.

Although successfully resisting and holding back the Con-
federates, giving them a repulse so bloody, it makes one shud-
der to think of the appalling loss in killed and wounded inflicted
upon them. With all our confidence in our ability to hold them
back, at least, upon the Union front, Gen. Schofield thought
otherwise, and declared the position untenable.

About 9:00 o'clock, p. m. preparations were made to evacu-
ate and retreat to Nashville, nineteen miles north.

The greater portion of the trains were already safe in Nash-
ville, having been moved all the afternoon under the protection
of the cavalry.

Thus it was that one regiment and brigade after another was
quietly withdrawn from the works, marched down to and across
the bridge, reforming upon the north bank; and when all had
crossed, about 11:30 or perhaps 12:00 o'clock midnight, moved
out upon the road in retreat for Nashville.

During the excitement and carelessness of the hurried evac-
uation, some of the prisoners within our lines discovering that
the Federal forces were retreating, set fire to a number of build-
ings, hoping thereby to light up the whole space within the Union
lines, and thus show their friends outside the condition of things
and enable them to successfully renew the attack.

The Federal soldiers, however, turned in and put out the
fires, and all were able to cross the river in safety. The wound-
ed had to be left in the hastily improvised hospitals, surgeons
remaining with them; and here we found many of them upon up-
on our return trip after the battle of Nashville, which occurred
two weeks later. Some of the wounded left at Franklin were
sent south as prisoners to Andersonville, Few of these suffer-
ing ones were able to withstand the privations and hardships of
this horrible prison, and there died.

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 207

About midnight the Confederates, thinking we were evacu-
ating, opened a furious cannonade upon our deserted lines, and,
getting no reply soon discovered we were gone, and entered the
place.

By that time, however, the bridges were broken or burned, '
and Schofield's columns were well on their way towards Nash-
ville. The troops had nearly all been in constant motion during
the past forty-eight hours, and subjected to as great a strain,
mentally and physically, as it is possible for flesh and blood to
bear. Here on the road, when present safety became assured,
came the relaxation. Worn out, exhausted nature asserted it-
self, and the men slept, if not sweetly, oh ! how soundly, as they
stumbled along over a strange road during that night's march.
A strange spectacle, indeed ! Thousands of men marching mile
after mile as sound asleep as ever they were in their lives.

Sunrise on the morning of December 1st found us rubbing
our eyes and waking up at the foot of Brentwood Hills, six miles
south of Nashville, which place we reached safely by easy march-
ing during the morning. Here, next morning, we were visited
by those high in authority, and publicly received the thanks of
the nation, as well (as he expressed it) as the earnest, heartfelt
thanks of the grandest Roman of them all, Gen. Geo. H. Thom-
as, for services rendered at Franklin.

Our brigade commander, Col. Opdycke, received finally the
commissions of Brigadier and Major-General, the only instance
of the kind which occurred during the war. As Chaplain Petti-
bone poetically put it, his eagles took flight and soared among
the stars. Various writers have shown the bearing of the battle
of Franklin upon the final success gained at Nashville. This
point was more aptly or tersely made during the battle of Nash-
ville by a comrade of the Seventy-fourth than in anything which
I have read. It was while charging the stone wall on the first
evening of the first day's battle.

We had already easily driven them from two advantageous
positions, and here again they ran like sheep. The comrade,
becoming disgusted with that sort of thing, exclaimed: "See
'em, see 'em go ; they had the wire edge took off from them
at Franklin, and, blast 'em, they wont fight."

Here, at Nashville, ended the first chapter of this campaign.
Here were reinforcements which gave the Union army the pre-

208 NINTH REUNION OF THE

ponderance of numbers and assured success in the impending
struggle. The prominent points of the campaign were the re-
treat from Columbia, and the resulting battles of Spring Hill
and Franklin. Officers high in authority disagree (rather sharp-
ly so), and are inclined to find fault one with another, and to ig-
nore or disparage the services of this command or that; but to
those who marched at the front, and stood watchful and ready
at Spring Hill, or saw the battle at Franklin from the vicinity of
the Columbia pike, there can be no belittling or disparaging any
one, as they thought they surely saw glory enough to go around.
In the language of B. F. Taylor, "Bright honor's self might well
have followed the hindmost."

At the request of the committee, Robert Simpson of Co. C,
has prepared the following statement respecting the movement
of the Federal troops from Spring Hill to Franklin, Tenn., in
November, 1864 :

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT.

209

Copy of Diagram showing the position of the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 4th Army
Corps, on the retreat from Spring Hill to Franklin, Nov. 30th, 1864.

36th 111.

73d 111.

Co. C 74th 111.

88th 111.

II M I I II I !

Rebel

24th Wis.

44th 111.

Reserve Skirmishers

—

Skirmishers.

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

Cavalry.

210 NINTH REUNION OF THE

JUDGE HENRY V. FREEMAN'S ADDRESS.

Comrades, Ladies and Gentlemen : At this late hour you will
not expect me to detain you with any long speech. We have
been listening to-night to the story of one of the most dramatic
battles of the war for the Union. It is a story of surpassing in-
terest, in view of the most creditable and important part which
the Seventy-fourth had in that action.

I wondered, as the story was being retold this evening,
whether or not you realized what it meant when the Seventy-
fourth, with the rest of Opdycke's brigade, sprang forward at
that critical moment into the "deadly breach" which the charg-
ing Confederates had made in the Union line of defense. Recall
for a moment the situation. Because "some one had blunder-
ed," two brigades of Wagner's division had been left solitary and
alone, half a mile in front of the main Union line. When the
fierce oncoming rush of the Confederates reached them, flanking
them on either side, there was no alternative for them but to re-
tire as rapidly as possible to the main line, or else be swallowed
up by the advancing flood; and, of course, as they retired, the
Confederates followed behind and with them, protected by these
retreating troops from the fire of the main Union line.

That Confederate line of battle was composed of too old and
experienced soldiers not to see the advantage of this situation.
With the cry, "let us go into the works with them," and the old
familiar "rebel yell," both friend and foe came pouring over the
Union line of defense in an almost undistinguishable mass.
Thus the troops at this point were partially swept away, leaving
for the moment the breastwork and a number of cannon in the
hands of the Confederates. A breach had been made at the first
onset, and the exultant Confederates for the moment doubtless
regarded the Union works as won.

Then it was that the troops of Opdycke's brigade, the Sev-
enty-fourth among them, sprang forward into the deadly breach.
The guns were recaptured, the Confederates were repulsed, a
new line of defense was formed, and over that intervening space
for hours there raged one of the fiercest conflicts of the war, un-
til darkness and exhaustion, and the absolute repulse of the reb-
el charge, finally ended the terrible slaughter of the day.

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 211

If on no other occasion of the war the old regiment had ren-
dered conspicuous service, what it did there would have amply
justified its existence. It has been stated before at these reun-
ions, but ought to be remembered in this connection, that the
next day Gen. Wood, who had succeeded to the command of the
Fourth corps, when Gen. Stanley was wounded in the battle,
rode up with Gen. George H. Thomas, and calling out Col.
George W. Smith, of the Eighty-eighth, who was in command
of both his own and the Seventy-fourth regiments, consolidated
for the time being, said to him: "Col. Smith, I desire to repeat
to you to-day, in the presence of Gen. Thomas, what I said to
you yesterday, that it is owing to the conduct of yourself and
men that we saved the battle yesterday, at Franklin."

It is a good thing sometimes for a man to ask himself if the
world is any the better for his having lived in it. Whatever
answer we may give to this question to ourselves, every man of
the Seventy-fourth who took part in that counter charge at Frank-
lin, can at least reply that he has helped to render one conspic-
uous service in her hour of need to the land which gave him birth.
His country at least was the better then because he lived and
served her. And the world is better now, and will always be
better, because of such examples of heroic daring and patriotic
devotion.

The proud satisfaction in the memory of service faithfully
rendered is something which the growing years cannot take away.
The present generation knows only as history the story of those
stirring days, which to us is vivid recollection. I thought to-
day, as our attenuated line moved along the street, while the
passers by looked curiously on, of that September Sabbath,
when the Seventy-fourth — a thousand strong — young and vigor-
ous, marched down the street from its camp to take the train for
the front. There were cheers and tears; there were crowded
streets; the churches were deserted, and the city came as one
man to bid farewell to the men, many of whom looked that day
for the last time upon the faces of friends they left behind.

But let us not forget that, if occasion demanded, the young
men of to-day would spring as readily at the country's call to
arms as did the youth of our boyhood years. And even now,
after thirty years, the old fire of patriotism has not yet died out
in the hearts of the nation's defenders of '65, When but a few

212 NINTH REUNION OF THE

weeks ago the public peace and order were threatened by mob
violence over a considerable portion of the. public domain, no
men were more ready than the old soldiers of 1865 to offer their
service for the restoration of obedience to law. And none ap-
proved more heartily than they the firm stand taken by the Pres-
ident and the measures by him adopted to that end.

Wars have not yet ceased among men. The swords have
not yet all been beaten into ploughshares, nor the spears into
pruning hooks. If history should repeat inself in our land,
another war of some kind would not be far away. For since
early Colonial times there have not been many periods of peace
extending beyond the nearly thirty years which have passed
since you and I, my comrades, laid aside bur swords and guns,
and took up the occupations of peaceful life. But a country
that is worth having is worth fighting for. if need there be. And
there are some things worse even than war.

But however that may be, with the old soldier of the Union
"the past at least is secure." And it remains for us now, as the
shadows of life lengthen, to

" So live, that when thy summons comes to join
The innumerable caravan that moves
To the pale realms of shade, where each shall take
His chamber in the silent halls of death,
Thou go not, like the quarry slave at night,
-Scourged to his dungeon, but sustained and soothed
By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave
Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams."

After another song, "The Old Yellow Pumpkin," given by
Dr. McAffee in his own inimitable fashion, the secretary read
the following letter from Mr. M. B. Carter, of Franklin, Tenn.,
around whose buildings occurred the decisive struggle of that
battle:

FRANKLIN, Tenn., Dec. 4, 1884.

MR. EDWARD BLACK, Jesup, Iowa — Dear Sir: Allow me to
assure you it gives me pleasure to reply to your very courteous
letter of 17th ult. , and avail myself of this, the first favorable op-
portunity of doing so. The scene that greeted your eyes at 9:00
p. m. of the battle was doubtless horrible enough; imagination
may, imperfectly at best, convey a true picture of the morning.
The situation was peculiarly distressing to us. Many of our
brothers, kindred and friends for years, had been denied the
pleasure of revisiting the old homestead and the loved ones

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 213

there. This campaign of Hood's offered a chance. Though cov-
ered with tatters, and many barefooted, they eagerly sought the
coveted opportunity of seeing once again the homes of their
childhood. But, alas ! after braving heroically the privations
and hardships of that rugged and toilsome march, they were
doomed to bitter disappointment. Death met some at the very
threshold of home. Others were permitted to come in sight, and
closed their eyes in death on the fated field without a greeting
or word of solace from those they loved so dearly. It was indeed
a terrible thing to both sides; but under the circumstances,—
after so long an absence; — not only that, but cut off trom all
communication, it seems the anguish was painfully intensified, to
come so near a realization of their fondest hopes, indeed the
fondest hope of all, and then to fail.

It's over now, and, bad as it was, thank God it was no
worse. The incident of the little boys you refer to I never heard
before — suppose, however, they escaped unharmed, or 1 would
probably have heard of it. There were several families in our
house at the time among the residents here. In addition thereto
were a neighboring family or two who took refuge with us, con-
sidering the brick building safer than their frame ones. I count-
ed in the yard next morning fifty seven dead Federal soldiers,
and several Confederates. The Federal soldiers were removed
to the national cemetery near Nashville, the Confederates to a
cemetery near the battle field, the ground for the purpose being
donated by a public spirited patriotic gentleman, and the ex-
penses paid by private subscription. The dwelling and other
buildings look very much as they did when . you saw them,
though not so desolate as then, as improvements have been made,
and they present more the appearance of a peaceful civilization.
The general aspect of the country has undergone a wonderful
change. You could hardly credit your senses were you sudden-
ly transported hither. Instead of fenceless, uncultivated, deso-
late farms, verdant fields, thrifty orchards, blooming gardens,
and almost countless fresh looking, homelike dwellings present
themselves to view. The recuperative energies of our people
are simply astonishing. Photographers have frequently visited
the place and taken pictures of the many different views. I had
one or two given me, but have none now. The last taken that I
know of was for Scribner's Century, which I was told would come
out some time during next year. The artist said the Century
would publish a description of ail the battles of the war, with
suitable engravings, beginning with the -first and consecutively
to the last. The old gin house not only stands, but is enlarged
and improved for greater usefulness. I forgot to say that not
one of any of the families in the house during the battle was
hurt. I had a brother, a captain on Gen. Smith's staff, mortally
wounded on the field a few hundred yards from the house. He

214 NINTH REUNION OF THE

survived about thirty-six hours after we brought him to the
house. Should you by any chance ever revisit this place, I
would be pleased to see you. I was a soldier in the rebellion —
was a rebel, also a soldier in the Mexican war, and have a kindly
regard for not only those of my own side, but for those who
fought against me. I can't say as much, however, for those who
furnished substitutes and still continue the warfare.

Respectfully yours, M. B. CARTER.

The president then being called upon said that he believed
that the interest in these great gatherings increased as the years
went by; that he knew it was so with the old soldiers themselves,
and with those who were not soldiers, but whose recollections
went back to the times of the war. That as we grew older we
naturally lived more and mpre in the past, we turned back more
and more to the scenes and incidents of other days; and that,
however successful we may have been in life, whatever honors
may have come to us, we always went back to the time of the war
with the most pride and satisfaction, we always went hack to the
time when we stood shoulder to shoulder with these men as the
most glorious period of our lives; that we did not wish to forget it,
and did not wish others to forget it. He also said that he believed
this interest was not confined to the old soldiers, or the older mem-
bers of the community, but was shared by all alike; that the very
general observance of Memorial Day was in evidence, and that
last spring, when the Illinois Department G. A. R. met here,
everyone, without regard to age or party, did all they could to
make that meeting a success; that there was an enthusiasm and
patriotic ardor on the part of all not seen here since war time;
that these gatherings were not only pleasant to those who took
part in them, but he believed they served a good and patriotic
purpose,

Short speeches were also made by Col. Thomas G. Lawler,
comrades Hawthorne, Talbot and others, when the president
called upon Maj. Roper to sing "Taps," and the lights were put
out for another year.

Gen. Philip Sidney Post, representative in Congress from
the Tenth Illinois District, and first brigade commander of the
Seventy-fourth Illinois, died at Washington, D. C, on Sunday,
the 6th day of January, 1895. At a meeting of the members of

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 215

the regiment residing in Rockford, held on the 7th inst. , such
action was taken as is indicated in the following communication:

HEADQUARTERS SEVENTY-FOURTH ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION,

Rockford, 111., January 7, 1895.
MRS. PHILIP SIDNEY POST, Galesburg, 111. — Dear Madam :

At a special meeting of the society of the Seventy-fourth Il-
linois, this day held at Rockford, 111., the following action was
taken regarding tne death of your husband, General Post, and
the undersigned were directed to communicate the same to you.

The surviving members of the Seventy-fourth Illinois, so
long in the brigade commanded by Gen. Philip Sidney Post, in
the Army of the Cumberland, desire to express to his widow and
children the real sympathy which they feel for them in this hour
of bereavement.

The wife and children have lost a husband and father; every
member of his old brigade has lost a friend.

For whatever reputation our regiment acquired in the dis-
charge of its duty in march and battle, it was indebted more than
to any other cause to the careful instruction and kindly advice
of Gen. Post in the early days of its service.

We bear willing testimony not only to his great efficiency
as an officer, but to his sterling qualities as a man.

He was a strict disciplinarian, and yet was loved by all.
He was brave to a fault, and yet was never rash. He never
spared himself, but was careful of his men. His was a patriot-
ism that responded to the first call of his country, and notwith-
standing wounds of the severest character, endured even unto
the end. JOHN H. SHERRATT, President.

H. P. HOLLAND, Secretary.

[Philip Sidney Post was born in Florida, Orange county,
N. Y., March 19, 1833. He came of patriotic and military
stock; his father, Gen. Peter Schuyler Post, having served in
the war of 1812, and his grandfather in the revolutionary war.
He graduated at Union College in 1855, studied law, and was
admitted to the bar in Illinois. He then moved to Kansas,
where he practiced his profession, and also established and edit-
ed a newspaper. Those were stirring days in Kansas, and the
young lawyer and journalist took an active part in the struggle
for freedom in the territory. As soon as war was declared, Gen.
Post left Kansas and hurried back to Illinois to enlist. He was
elected second Lieutenant in the Fifty-ninth Illinois Volunteers,
and in eight months, by successive promotions, as adjutant and
major, he became the colonel of the regiment. At the battle of

2l6 NINTH REUNION OF THE

Pea Ridge he was severely wounded in the shoulder, but refused
to leave the field until ordered to do so by the commanding offi-
cer. Before he was able to mount without assistance he joined
his regiment, then in front of Corinth, Miss., and was assigned
to the command of a brigade. From that time until the close of
the war he was constantly at the front. In the Army of the
Cumberland, as first organized, he commanded the first brigade,
first division, twentieth army corps, from its formation until its
dissolution. His brigade began the battle of Stone River, and
drove the enemy back several miles and captured Leetown.
During the Atlanta campaign he was transferred to Gen. T. J.
Wood's division of the fourth army corps, and when Gen. Wood
was wounded at the battle of Lovejoy Station, Gen. Post fook
command of the division and checked the progress of the enemy
to the north.

Gen, Post's military career found a fitting climax at the
battle of Nashville. December loth, 1864, he twice successfully
assaulted the enemy's works; as the official reports say — "taking
the initiative, and inciting the rest of the army to the brilliant
deeds of the day." The following morning, while leading his
brigade in a charge against Overton's Hill, the most
formidable position ,of the enemy, he fell almost within
the hostile breastworks. A grapeshot had crushed through his
hip, making what for some days was regarded as a mortal wound.
For his gallantry at Nashville he was brevetted a brigadier-gen-
eral, and received a medal of honor from congress. After four
months in the hospital he again reported for duty, and was as-
signed to the command of the western district of Texas, where
sixteen regiments had been concentrated. He remained there
until 1866, when the withdrawal of the French from Mexico re-
moved all danger of military complication. Gen. George H.
Thomas earnestly recommended him for a colonelcy in the reg-
ular army, saying, "I know of no officer of Gen. Post's grade
who has made a better or more brilliant record;" but peace hav-
ing been declared, he did not wish to remain in the army.

In 1866 Gen. Post was appointed consul to Vienna, Austria-
Hungary, and later was promoted to consul-general. His offi-
cial reports were voluminous and are quoted as authority, among
them an elaborate report on beet sugar culture and manufacture,
the Austrian railway system, and the protection of American in-

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 217

venters. He also recommended the inspection of American
meat exports, and, curiously, fifteen years later, as a member of
congress, voted for such a law which he had been the first to
recommend.

Resigning in 1879 he returned to his home in Galesburg, and
at once took an active interest in public affairs. For several
years he was a member-at-large of the republican state central
committee. In 1886 he was commander of the department of
Illinois, Grand Army of the Republic. The same year he was
elected to congress in the Peoria district, defeating Nicholas E.
Worthington by twenty-nine votes. Worthington contested,
but Gen. Post beat him in a democratic House. Three succes-
sive renominations by acclamation and increasing majorities at
the polls prove his popularity with his party and the people.
By the new apportionment he was thrown into the Rock Island
district, and although four new counties were thus added, and
only two of his old counties left, the new tenth district paid him
the compliment of a unanimous nomination, which the people
indorsed by giving him 13,000 plurality at the recent election.

In caring for the interests of his district, representative
Post had been remarkably successful. It was the boast of his
friends that the tenth district had never asked anything from its
representative which he had not secured for it. He was an
earnest and consistent advocate of the rights of the soldiers, and
sought to place pension legislation upon a basis of right and his-
torical precedent instead of charity. He was an outspoken ad-
vocate of bimetallism, and believed that the United States should
do something to secure it. If his views on this question varied
from his party, it is characteristic of the man that he neverthe-
less announced them openly and fearlessly.

Gen. Post's career was not yet ended. The congressional
nomination in his district was practically conceded to him. His
name had been frequently connected with the senatorship, and
already in some quarters there had been a revival of the attempt
made in 1892 to induce him to become a candidate for governor. ]

FROM THE WIDOW OF GEN. POST.

The following letter was received in reply to the foregoing

communication :

GALESBURG, 111., January 23, 1895.

HON. J. H. SHERRATT, President Seventy-fourth Illinois As-
sociation, Rockford, 111. — My Dear Sir; Among the many

218 NINTH REUNION OF THE

tributes of love and respect which have come to us, none is more
appreciated than the one from the members of the Seventy-
fourth Illinois. Gen. Post was always particularly proud of the
Seventy-fourth regiment, and I have heard him say that he never
received higher praise than that given him by Mr. Black in a sketch
of the campaign in Tennessee, in the summer and fall of 1863,
and published in the proceedings of the third reunion of your
regiment, held at Rockford on September 4th, 1885.

The blow to us is a fearful one; but, if it must come, the
manner of its coming cannot be regretted.

Gen. Post fell in the vigor of manhood, in the full possession
of his mental faculties, and in the active discharge of his duties.

The family join me in sending to you, and every member of
the regiment, our heartfelt thanks for this kindly expression of
your sympathy. Respectfully yours,

CORNELIA A. POST.

Proceedings Eleventh Reunion

September 4, 1597, Oregon, Illinois

BUSINESS MEETING.

Survivors of the regiment met in eleventh reunion, at Ore-
gon, 111, September 4th, 1897. A business meeting was held in
the afternoon, at which the following officers were elected:

JOHN H. SHERRATT, President.

VICE-PRESIDENTS.

James S. Cowen Company A

A. W. Thompson " B

H. P. Holland " C

Thos. W. Cole " D

Elias Cosper " E

Levi S. Sanders " F

A. Matmiller " G

Oscar Franklin " H

D. G. Spaulding « I

John M. Fraley " K

JOHN W. BEATSON, Sec'y and Treas.

It was moved and carried that the next reunion of the regi-
ment be held at Rockford, 111., on October 8th, 1899, or as near
that date as practicable, the exact date to be announced by the
officers elected this day.

In the evening a camp-fire of members of the regiment, with
citizens and others, filling the large hall of the G. A. R., in the
Oregon court house, was presided over b)' president J. F. Haw-
thorne, of Co. G. After singing by a glee club, who kindly vol-
unteered their services, Hon. Franc Bacon, mayor of Oregon,
— a son of Capt. Bacon, of the regiment, who fell so gallantly
at the desperate charge on Kenesaw — then delivered the follow-
ing address of welcome;

220

Mr. President and Members of the Seventy-fourth Regiment Illi-
nois Volunteer Infantry: As I look in the faces of these veterans
gathered here I can recall the fact that in the few short years in-
tervening since I had the pleasant duty of extending to your
regiment the hearty welcome of the Gem City of the Rock, a
number tnen present are not with us to-night. Again I am del-
egated to say that it is the wish of the people of this city that
you may visit us on many future occasions, and with undecimat-
ed ranks. I am reminded, in looking over those assembled here
to-night, that many who escaped the leaden hail and iron storms
of Perryville, Rocky Face, Lost Mountain, Resaca, Mission
Ridge, Franklin, Adairsville, Dallas, Smyrna, Liberty Gap,
Peach Tree Creek, Kenesaw, Columbia, Atlanta, Jonesboro and
Nashville with wrecked physical systems, have now fallen ready
victims to the grim reaper.

Over their last resting places, as over those of your comrades
gone before, we may well say :

"Here lurks no treason, here no envy swells :
Here grow no damned grudges ; here no storms,
No noise, — but silence and eternal sleep."

The very few of the once powerful regiment who are now
permitted to gather with us can well feel that all the sacrifices
of the great war were not made for an ungrateful people; and
though at times it may have seemed to you that the government,
through its officials, or perhaps many of the consituents thereof,
had too soon forgotten your valiant struggles, yet remember that
all the true men and women of this republic still have for you a
warm place in their hearts. This is a patriotic nation; for this
republic of ours had its corner stone laid on the bones of the glo-
rious dead of '76, and its keystone arch cemented with the brave
blood of '61 to '65.

We love our country, its flag and its gallant defenders, both
living and dead. It was in 1814, when the British invader was
near the seat of government, that the poet, Key, so enthused
with the patriotic ardor of the time, gave us the "Star Spangled
Banner," and prophetically sang:

" Then conquer we must, where our cause it is just."
********

" And the star spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.''

How, as by inspiration, he saw that in this great republic of
ours, from the pine lined Penobscot to the shining sands of the

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. t , 221

majestic Pacific; from the zenith city of the unsalted seas to the
cactus-fringed Rio Grande, there was room for but one flag and
one nation; and the furling of the stars and bars at Appomattox
was an event that was as sure to take place as that the night
shall follow day.

No other government in the history of the world has ever
demonstrated its ability to care for a country with a scope 'of
territory anywhere near equalling ours, without resort to a mon-
strous standing army.

Did it ever occur to you why this republic of ours, with its
little regular army of numbers never exceeding 25,000, is always
respected by the great governments of the world? - For an
answer turn to the effect of the first hostile shot fired at our na-
tional emblem. The screaming shell hurled at Sumpter was
heard throughout the length and breadth of this loyal land of
ours; and concurrent with the President's call for volunteers,
the instantaneous tread of marching feet was heard. You laid
aside the plowshares and other implements of peaceful-husband-
ry, to don the harness of war.

Only recently, when our relations with the Spanish govern-
ment breathed of war, you remember how suddenly the telegraph-
ic wires of our land were loaded with offers of troops and volun-
teers.

The moment an insult was offered the "old flag," that in-
stant you ceased to be democrats, republicans or fusionists, and
both North and South, you expressed ready willingness, to see
that no stain was placed upon the banner you love so* well.

And so it shall always be, if the same love of the stars and
stripes is kept alive — as it will be, — and you and your posterity
may rest assured that your heroic services have had no small
part in fostering this love of our flag.

Very few of the regiments of the war were so quickly brought
to a realization of what stern -war was as yours.' Within ten
days after your departure from your camp among friends on the
beautiful Rock, you were brought face to face with the foe at
Perryville, and there, on the 8th day of October, you received
your baptism of fire; and many of you now again: can hear the
real old "rebel yell," as it floated over the hill that day; and
many of you, too, can feel the hair elevating your caps even as
you felt it then.

222 ELEVENTH REUNION OF THE

While you were not present at the fall of the Gibraltar of the
Mississippi, yet the army of which you formed a part contrib-
uted in no small measure to bring about the surrender of Vicks-
burg.

You kept an active foe from raising the siege, and throwing
reinforcements into that beleagured city. With the fall of that
strongly fortified place, so that, in the words of the lamented
Lincoln, "the Mississippi ran unvexed to the sea," came the
real death blow of the Confederacy. It was, thereafter, as a
gigantic reptile whose backbone was broken; and while it was
dangerous to be in reach of the fangs, it was utterly unable to
cover the territory formerly swayed by it, nor was it thereafter
ever able to wriggle its slimy shape upon loyal soil.

You were not of the 60,000 that made the "march to the
sea;" but yours was the more arduous and dangerous task of pro-
tecting the North from a taste of the same kind of invasion that
Sherman was then making through Georgia. You were sent
back, denuded of sufficient transportation and proper equipment,
with a very large part of the army of which you then became a
part, formed of convalescents, and you were sent back to defend
your own against that prince of fiery fighters, Hood, and to pre-
vent his crossing the Ohio. If Hood had succeeded in passing
or defeating the "rock of the Chickamauga," Gen. Thomas,
Gen. Sherman's march to the sea would never have been record-
ed on the pages of history as one of the new moves in warfare.
It would have been, as all other military operations taken before,
where there was a severance from a base of supplies, a dismal
failure. But, owing to the excellent fighting capacities and
clever generalship of your own "Pap" Thomas, the dangers of
the rear were fully cared for.

In your splendid charge at Franklin, and in the heavy blows
delivered in the two day's fight at Nashville, you perhaps sawyour
severest services; but that it was well done and gallantly done,
Gen. Stanley bore ready witness in his address to you. You all
recall the time and place, and many of you the very words, your
commander used that day; and if the pages afford you scant por-
tion, his words will ring in your ears as long as life lasts, and his
"well done, old Seventy-fourth," are as imperishable as though
graven stone bore those characters.

It was at Mission Ridge that you also won signal renown.

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 223

When you started on that charge that day across the level you
came, but never halting, as expected, at the first rifle pits, you
went on and on, over one hostile barricade after another, and on
to the very top of that cannon- crested ridge you went, hurling
back the exulting foe from a position that was deemed by them
to be very secure. And, looking back, you saw your division
commander closely following you up that steep slope, mounted
on Rienzi. Some of you, perhaps, were part of those that
"Little Phil," in the joy of that moment of triumph, grasped by
the hand as he shouted: "Thank God we will have rations now."

Almost with the disappearance of Bragg's headquarters you
sat down to a more substantial fare than you had in Chattanoo"
ga, when mule tenderloins and east wind were regular parts of
the bill of fare. There perhaps was never another battle fought
just as Mission Ridge was fought, and won. The private soldier
on that day, en masse, and without orders, practically secured the
unexpected victory. It was not intended on that occasion for
you to charge at that time to the top of the Ridge, but you were
merely to secure the lower line and await the demonstration from
Hooker; but "fighting Joe" was too slow, and you won the day,
much to the surprise, I take it, of both friend and foe.

During the earlier years of the war, when the Army of the
Potomac, through no fault of its private soldiers however, was
being defeated just as often as the authorities at Washington
could discover new commanding generals, it was the custom of
the Confederate generals and newspaper writers accompanying
their army to always claim that these victories were won by a
very much inferior force on their part. To such an extent was
this carried by the Hills, Early, Anderson and others, that a
Union soldier then in the Eastern army facetiously wrote home:
"A few more years, a few more books, and it will appear that
Lee and Johnson, and a one-armed orderly, and casual with a
shot gun, fought all the battles of the rebellion, and killed all
the Union soldiers, except those who ran away."

But this boasting was confined strictly to the East; for al-
most with the opening of the war in the West there crossed the
threshold of the rebellion a mighty captain, greater than Napol-
eon, Hannibal or Alexander. Under his leadership, Henry and
Donaldson soon fell, and the mighty hosts were driven to the
south. Through the swamps around Vicksburg he struggled,

224 ELEVENTH REUNION OF THE

seeking for some place to set his foot; and then, when he suc-
ceeded, the world suddenly received the news that Vicksburghad
fallen. But a new star had arisen, and the name of Grant was
upon every lip. By common accord he was placed with the
great generals of the world/ and if he had never been at Appo-
mattox his name would have gone down to posterity as the one
general of the war.

These reunions bring to you moments of pleasure, but sadly,
too, you bow your heads in sorrow as you notice that one by one
you are fast dropping away; and the day is not far distant when
you will have held your last gathering and you will all be mus-
tered out.

But so exemplary has been your conduct, and your service
in the past has been such that when the reveillle is sounded on
the last great day we will see you one and all marching forward
elbow to elbow in the army of the Great Commander, for here,
with us, you showed that you were true to your country, to your
flag and your God.

To these eloquent remarks Maj. E. F. Dutcher, on behalf
of the regiment, responded in his usual happy vein. Following
came short impromptu speeches from Rev. Nye, of Oregon, and
Chan Pettibone, of Polo. H. P. Holland being called for said:

"Knowing, before coming here to-day, that I would be called
upon for extra duty — for comrade Hawthorne never missed his
opportunity to give me a detail which nobody else wanted, — I
naturally cast about as to how I could most easily, and yet with
a show of good faith, acquit myself of the task. At divers times
and in sundry places have I talked to my comrades of the Sev-
enty-fourth, and I, therefore, feel assured that I could not now
make a speech upon the old topics which would be otherwise
than stale.

For this reason I have adopted, for what I have to say here,
the form of verse, not of poetry; for, to paraphrase a couplet of
Longfellow's, these verses "resemble poetry only as the mist re-
sembles the rain; — meaning thereby, I suppose, that the mist re-
sembles the rain in having the quality of moisture, and that this
screed resembles poetry in having the methodical form of rhyme.

I will further say that the article furnished is hand made,
and has none of the smoothness and uniformity of finish which
always distinguish the machine products:

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 225

LET US HAVE PEACE.

Stand closer, boys, and dress the ranks,

For, here and there, a broken file
Tells of some comrade mustered out;

You halt at ease awhile.
And still close up, and, side by side,

All touching elbows, firmly stand
Beneath the flag to hold the line

That guards the fatherland.

The years with silent footsteps pass,

And in their vista, dim and gray,
You see the war-worn hosts again

Stand marshalled for the fray.
In dreams, again, through weary days,

To fife's shrill note and drum's loud rattle,
With tired feet and steadfast hearts

You march to siege and battle.

In dreams alone ! No more you form

In silent ranks, beneath the pines
Nor bugle sounds its signal call

To charge the long gray lines.
So may it be through all the land

That, rallying to the flag of stars,
Old foemen, friends once more, shall join

To heal the battle's scars !

For, where the seed-time was of death,

The harvest stands in garnered sheaves.
While autumn's frost, not war's red rain,

Shall paint the verdant leaves.
On fields, where late in blood and fire

The storm of brothers' battle broke,
There rise, from hearths of happy homes,

Blue wreaths of peaceful smoke.

The Union shout, the rebel yell,

They call no more to bloody fray,
And those who strove in deadly fight

All sing of peace to-day.
For, richer than the meed of war,

The teeming guerdon peace holds out ;
And, sweeter than the battle-cry,

The play ing children's shout !

So, unto watching shepherds, came

A message of the Christ-child's birth, —
Henceforth among all men should be

Good will and peace on earth.

226 ELEVENTH REUNION OF THE

This one in gray, and that in blue,

For duty, as each saw it, fought.
We hail them both, Americans, —

The end is what God wrought.

What though on fields, made rich by blood,

The seeds of hate and strife were sown ?
The flowers that bloom above their graves

Now tell of peace alone.
While these for Grant, and those for Lee,

Each crowns his own a chosen son.
None but a dastard's hand would steal

The laurels either won.

And, North or South, the sentinel

On duty still his challenge cries : —
1 ' How is it with America ?"

"All's well," Grand Rounds replies.
With fleeting years the living ranks

Grow thinner still, as, one by one,
Slow, passing out beyond the lines,

They go from shade to sun.

" Forward, guide right !" the last command,

They answered with unfaltering heart;
With flag in front the line advanced,

And each did well his part.
Beyond those lines through which they passed

You may not see ; you only know
That, where the weary are at rest,

Those still on guard must go.

For those who fell, or friend or foe,

We weave a wreath of joyous bloom
To mark where blue and gray have laid

Old quarrels in one tomb.
For those who fell, or friend or foe,

What need for tears ? Out of the night,
Which we call life, they swiftly passed

Into the morning light.

For those who still stand at the front,

Awaiting there the roll's last call,
The answer, bold and clear, shall be

"Present for duty, all!"

John H. Sherratt, being called upon by the president, spoke
as follows :

Mr. President ', Comrades, Ladies and Gentlemen: I had sup-
posed, when I came here to-day, that all I had to do was to read

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 227

this paper of comrade Potter; but our president tells me that
some of the speakers upon whom he had depended have failed
him, and that I must help to fill in the time.

I am glad of an opportunity to express my appreciation of
the splendid hospitality with which we have been received. Of
course it is not unexpected, for we have been here before, — the
last time some six years ago, — and we were then treated so roy-
ally by the members of Co. G and their friends, (and their friends
seem to comprise all the people of Oregon and vicinity) that we
have been trying to get back here ever since; and now that we
are here, we are enjoying every minute of it.

I don't know why it is, but somehow the members of Co. G
always had a habit of getting to the front, a habit that the rest
of us used to encourage them in. They always had a habit of
doing things in the right way and at the right time; and, as I
said, I don't know why this should be so, unless their intimate
connection with Co. K, a company to which I had the honor to
belong, might account for it. For three years we were next to
them in line, and I imagine that much of their success in life has
been due to the good example that we set them.

Now, comrades, we are not here to-day to indulge in self-
glorification. There is no need of that. The record of the
Union armies has long since been made up, and the world has
passed judgment upon it. It is glory enough for us that in that
grand] army of the Union this regiment bore not only an honor-
able, but a distinguished part. We are here merely to meet each
other again, to take each other again by the hand, to again look
into each other's faces, and to congratulate each other upon our
generally youthful and captivating appearance.

We are proud of those old days; and whatever we may have
been before the war, or whatever we may have been since, we
always go back to the time when we served together, and follow-
ed the flag with most pride and satisfaction. I remember how
proud I was when I donned my first uniform. I know that it
was much too short in the legs, and much too short in the arms,
but I thought then that if the other 599,000 that had just been
called into the service presented as splendid and martial appear-
ance as myself, that the war would soon be over; that when the
rebels sawus coming, they would, like Davy Crockett's coon, come
down. Buttheydidnot. Strange to say they did not come down; and

228 ELEVENTH REUNION OF THE

it took not only that 600,000 men, but, first and last, more than
two and a half millionsof men, one-eighth of the population of the
loyal states, to conquer peace and preserve the Union. Search
history as you may, you will nowhere else find an instance,
among civilized nations, of so large a proportion of a country's
fighting strength going forth to battle. And the glory of it all is
that nearly all of these men were volunteers. Why was this?
Why were these men eager and brave in the defense of their
country? It was because they had been good citizens; because
they had been born and bred in an atmosphere of freedom; be-
cause this country was their country; the fight was their fight;
Abraham Lincoln was their President, elected by their votes to
do their work; and when he said come, they went; and stayed
until our banners were furled in peace.

And, when the war was over, there was no talk of Caesarism,
of imperialism or of dictatorship; but the armies quietly melted
away, and were merged again into the people. They returned
to that citizenship they had laid down, and thereafter were better
citizens because they had been good soldiers; because they had
learned in dreadful war the price of free institutions and con-
stitutional government. And in all the years since they have
been a patriotic and conservative force in the affairs of this na-
tion, they have been an influence atid power for good, for good
order and good government in the communities where they have
lived.

More than one-half of them have passed away, and the
others are hastening to the end; but just as long as there is
breath in their bodies they will join with you of a younger gen-
eration in every good and patriotic work.

And now, comrades, I have said enough to meet the re-
quirements of your president, comrade Hawthorne, and will read
the paper prepared by comrade Potter upon the Nashville cam-
paign. It is a paper of great merit, concise and yet comprehen-
sive, accurate and graphic in its statements. Comrade Potter
is peculiarly well equipped for such a task. He is a student of
war literature; and, as you all know, was a splendid soldier, and
with the regiment at the time of which he speaks.

In the absence of the writer, Capt. Sherratt then read the
following paper, compiled by Lieut. A. M. Potter, of Co. K :

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 229

AN ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF NASHVILLE
DECEMBER 15TH AND 16TH, 1864.

BY ANDREW M. POTTER.

READ AT OREGON, ILL., SEPT. 4TH, 1897.

On the second day of December, 1864, the army, under Maj.
Gen. Geo. H. Thomas, was established on a defensive line around
the cityof Nashville, Tenn., and confronted by the rebel army under
Gen. John B. Hood. The Union army rested, the left on the
Cumberland River above Nashville, and the right on the same
river below the city. It was organized as follows: a force num-
bering 5,500 men, made up of garrisons withdrawn from points
between Murfreesboro and Chattanooga, and Decatur, Alabama,
a few men, one year regiments, two colored brigades, and mem-
bers of the four army corps then with Gen. Sherman, who, being
convalescents and furloughed men, could not rejoin their com-
mands previous to the march to the sea.

This force was provisionally organized into one division and
one brigade under Maj. -Gen. James B. Steedman, which held
the extreme left of Gen. Thomas' army; next towards the right
came the Twenty-third army corps of two divisions under Maj.-
Gen. John M. Schofield, numbering 9,500 infantry, and 650 ar-
tillery; next on the right was the Fourth army corps, under
command of Brevet Maj. -Gen. Thomas J. Wood, three divisions
of 13,500 'infantry and 750 artillery. Gen. Wood was temporarily
commanding in place of Maj. -Gen. David S. Stanley, wounded
at Franklin on November 30th.

Next to the Fourth corps, and covering the extreme right,
were three divisions known as a detachment of the Army of the
Tennessee, and familiarly spoken of as the Sixteenth army corps,
and commanded by Maj. -Gen. A. J. Smith. This force had
early in the year been designed to form part of Gen. Sherman's
army in Georgia, but had been with Gen. N. P. Banks on the ill-
starred Red River expedition; then when at Memphis, en-route
to Sherman, had been diverted to Missouri, where, under Gen.
Rosecrans, it had engaged in the campaign which resulted in the
final expulsion of the rebel Gen. Price from the state. The Six-
teenth corps numbered 9,700 infantry and 775 artillery. AtMur-

230 ELEVENTH REUNION OF THE

freesboro was a force of between 8,000 and 9,000 under Maj.-
Gen. Rosseau, formed from railroad guards, garrisons withdrawn
from less important points, and several new regiments. These
new regiments were mainly from Ohio, and besides being in large
part officered by men who had seen service, contained many men
who had been discharged on completion of one term of enlist-
ment during the previous summer.

It was but comparatively a few hours before the whole army
was behind a fine line of earthworks, and practically in an im-
pregnable position. Some distance to the rear, but outside the
city, was another line of works, occupied by civilian employes
of the quartermaster's department. This force was about 10,-
000 men, and was commanded by Gen. J. L. Donaldson, chief
quartermaster of the military division of the Mississippi.

Commanding all these exterior works were a number of well-
fortified hills occupied by artillery, and which had been built
some two years previously. The cavalry corps was made up of
regiments which had been scattered from Louisville to Atlanta,
from Memphis to Knoxville, some from Vicksburg and some from
Missouri; and, with the exception of Kilpatrick's division, all
the cavalry which had been engaged on the Atlanta campaign.
This force was widely scattered, but under orders to concentrate
at Edgefield, opposite Nashville.

The cavalry was organized into six divisions numbering 12,-
000 men, 9,000 of whom were mounted, at least one-fifth very
poorly, the whole under command of Maj.-Gen. James H.Wilson.

On the Cumberland River were eight gunboats which guard-
ed the flanks of the army, and prevented the crossing of any
very large bodies of the enemy. This fleet was commanded by
Lieut. Commander Fitch.

Gen. Thomas had put forth every possible effort during the
month of November to concentrate and organize this miscellan-
eous force, that it might be in readiness to meet Hood on cross-
ing the Tennessee River, but it was not until the second day of
December that the infantry had been concentrated at Nashville,
and not until a week later that the cavalry were furnished with
horses, and in some cases with cavalry arms.

On the 8th everything was in readiness, and orders were
issued to attack Hood's army on the morning of the 9th; but
that night a cold rain set in, and by morning the surface of the

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 231

country was covered with a sheet of ice, making movements of
animals absolutely impracticable, and nearly so for human be-
ings. There was nothing left to be done but await a moderation
of temperature which should release the army from its practical-
ly icy fetters.

The looked-for thaw came on the 18th, and the next
day minute directions were issued from department headquarters
for the battle to be fought the following day.

Early on the 15th Gen. Steedman, with a portion of his
force, moved out near the Murfreesboro pike and railroad, and,
with much display, threatened an attack on Hood's right, which
was at once strengthened from his center, on the theory that
battle was to be delivered at that point. Although no serious
engagement took place, sufficient activity was displayed to con-
tinue Hood in his opinion, while the Union cavalry, which had
concentrated on Thomas' right, moved out on the Charlotte pike,
swinging constantly to the left in connection with the Sixteenth
army corps. One cavalry division, R. W. Johnson's, moved
down the river and drove off a cavalry force which had practi-
cally blocked the river a few miles below Nashville. These
movements were concealed by fog, which did not clear until the
Fourth corps had moved to the front and come into contact
with the rebel outlying works and skirmishers, and the Sixteenth
corps and cavalry had changed front to rather more than right
angles with their original positions.

By noon all these forces were well up to the rebel works,
which consisted chiefly of detached works with artillery on the
numerous hills or knobs dotting the country, the artillery well
supported by infantry. Soon after the noon hour, the cavalry
being dismounted, in unison with the Sixteenth corps, made a
rush for the opposing works, quickly gaining them, capturing
their armament of guns, and, in most cases, the infantry sup-
ports. Directly in front of the Fourth corps was Montgomery's
Hill, a commanding point and well entrenched. It fell to Post's
brigade of the Third division to attack this point, which they did
in handsome style, carrying it and capturing a number of pris-
oners.

These movements were continued during the afternoon and
resulted in the capture of the main line of rebel works from near
Franklin pike to their extreme left, and the loss to the enemy of

232 ELEVENTH REUNION OF THE

eight pieces of artillery and five hundred prisoners. Schofield's
Twenty-third corps, which had been in reserve during the morn-
ing, was moved to the right of the Sixteenth corps during the
afternoon, and the cavalry were moved still farther to the right
and south in an endeavor to reach Granny White pike in rear of
Hood's left, and thus cut off one avenue of escape should he be
forced to retreat.

The movements of the day had been almost precisely as
planned and directed by Gen. Thomas, and in every respect
successful. At dark the rebels held only the ground on their ex-
treme right of all the positions occupied in the early morning,
and no serious attack had been made on that.

At dawn on the 16th, Hood had withdrawn and shortened
his lines, so that his right rested on Overton's Hill to the east of
Franklin pike, and his left reached to the Brentwood Hills, but
covering the Granny White pike.

The Union army moved forward and closed on the rebels,
finding them in continuous line and well entrenched. The plan
for the day's movements was similar to that of the 15th; to hold
close contact with the whole line watching for any advantage to
reach for the rebel left and turn it, forcing them from the Granny
White pike as means of retreat. While a demonstration, more
or less active, -was kept up on the entire front, the cavalry were
working to the right and to envelop the left rear of the enemy.

About noon it was decided, at Col. P. Sidney Post's earnest
solicitation, that he, with his brigade of the Third division,
Fourth corps, be allowed to attack the rebel position on Over-
ton's Hill, he to be supported by Streight's brigade, same divi-
sion, while Thompson's colored brigade, supported by Grosve-
nor's white brigade, were to co-operate to the east. After a se-
vere artillery fire, the attack was delivered unsuccessfully, Col.
Post was severely wounded, and many men killed and wounded.

The result of the constant pressure on our right had finally
been that the two lines of combatants were within hailing, indeed
within speaking, distance of one another.

An hour later than Post's charge, McMillan's brigade of the
Sixteenth corps charged an eminence since known as Shy's Hill,
named for a Tennessee colonel who fell in its defense. The hill
was carried. Cox's division on McMillan's left, and dismounted
cavalry on the right, took up the movement, rushed forward, and

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 233

the rebel left was irretrievably ruined. The rout was complete
from flank to flank of Hood's army, Overton's Hill being aban-
doned without resistance, where an hour before there had waged
the deadliest conflict of the day. The cavalry mounted and gal-
loped down the Granny White pike, capturing many prisoners
and much material of war, while the Franklin pike, being the
main avenue of retreat, was literally choked by the rout of men
and material.

By 6:00 p. m. darkness had settled down and put a stop to
the pursuit, which, begun three hours earlier, would have un-
doubtedly produced far greater results. Those who were with
the regiment in December, 1862, will recall that our first camp
south of Nashville was known as "Camp Andy Johnson."
During the morning of the 16th we marched in line of battle di-
rectly over the ground on which our tents had stood.

Later in the day, after the retreat of the rebels, we marched
over the ground to the left of the Franklin pike, which, in 1862,
we had occupied as our second camp, and whence we marched
to the battle of Stone River, and which was known as "Camp St.
James Chapel." On the morning of the 17th, the pursuit of the
flying rebels was taken up on both the Franklin and Granny
White pikes without opposition until the Harpeth River at
Franklin was reached. Owing to some mistake in orders, the
pontoon train had been sent out on the Murfreesboro, instead of
the Franklin pike, causing a delay which was never repaired,
giving Hood and his army time to put miles between their trains,
main army and their rear guard. A stern chase is proverbially
a long one; we found it so. The cavalry kept close up to the
rebel rear guard, but the condition of the country off the turn-
pikes prevented any flanking operations, and the only possible
alternative was constant dashes on the pike, by which more dam-
age was inflicted on the rebels than was received by our forces;
but the rebel rear guard from Columbia south was Forrest's com-
mand of cavalry, and, that stated, it is readily understood that
the task of pursuit was no easy one.

On the 27th Hood was across the Tennessee river at Bain-
bridge with all the high hopes and expectations of one month
previous completely shattered. Including the battle of Frank-
lin, and the operations of the month of November attending
Hood's invasion of Tennessee, Gen. Thomas' returns show pris-

234 ELEVENTH REUNION OF THE

oners captured and deserters received of between thirteen and
fourteen thousand men, and a capture of seventy-two cannon
and three thousand muskets. ManyTennesseans deserted before
reaching Bainbridge, returning to their homes to remain.

The Union loss at Nashville was three thousand and fifty-
seven, of whom less than four hundred were killed.

The Fourth corps lost about one thousand, of which the ma-
jority was on Overton's Hill. The Twenty-third corps' loss was
one hundred and Seventy-five. The Sixteenth corps lost seven
hundred and fifty; Steedman's, eight hundred, the most of which
was at Overton's Hill. The cavalry corps lost nearly three hun-
dred and fifty, the larger part occurring on the 15th, when carry-
the redoubts and hills forming the rebel left.

There is no question that to the genius of Gen. Thomas was
due the credit of bringing organization out of disorganization,
and fairly creating a new army to oppose a rebel army which was
fully as strong as when, on May 1st, Gen. Sherman had moved
on it with 98,000 men, and over which, during the entire sum-
mer, he had gained no substantial advantage. He had taken
60,000 men for his Savannah campaign, leaving Gen. Thomas
with the Fourth and Twenty-third corps as a nucleus for what
was practically a new army. He dismounted and disarmed the
cavalry to equip- Kilpatrick's division, which accompanied him.
He took the pontoon trains, necessitating the providing of anew
train, and the acquiring of horse and arm equipments for the cav-
alry contingent turned over to Gen. Thomas' command.

Under these adverse conditions how well "Pap" Thomas
succeeded the records show, and an appreciative country should
never forget.

Next came an address by Hon. R. R. Hitt, full of good
points and instructive as to the methods of conducting the enor-
mous business of the pension department of the government.
After a unanimous vote of thanks to Co. G and the citizens of
Oregon for their hospitable and generous entertainment of mem-
bers of the regiment, the camp-fire was closed by all uniting in
singing "Marching Through Georgia."

Proceedings: Twelfth Reunion

October 3, 1595, RocKford, Illinois.

BUSINESS MEETING.

Pursuant to call of officers, the twelfth reunion of the regi-
ment was held at Rockford, 111., on October 3d, 1899.

A business meeting was convened at G. A. R. Hall at 11:00
a. m. On motion, a vote of thanks was unanimously given to
Nevius Post No. 1, for use of the hall and other favors.

Comrades Beatson, Ray and Simpson were appointed a
committee to take such measures as they might deem expedient
to preserve the tatters of the first battle flag of the regiment.
Being called upon to submit some remarks upon the recent death
of Lieut. Thomas W. Cole, of Co. D, H. P. Holland said:

I have no love for formal resolutions of condolence upon the
death of anybody, — they mean nothing. Printed blanks could
as well be used for them. I submit no such resolutions. For
fifty-two years — the greater part of my life — I knew Tom Cole;
(we all called him Tom) and I never knew anything but good of
him. I can say, as was said of another:

" None knew him but to love him ;
None named him but to praise.''

Remembering Tom, as we all must, we know that nothing
could be more displeasing to his departed spirit, if, as may be,
it is here with us, than fulsome eulogy, which is as devoid of
feeling as a stone is of blood, and which never meant anything
to anybody. Tom hated hypocrisy, sham, cant and pretense.
He believed that things and men should pass for what they are
— not for what they assume to be; not a dime for a dollar, not
a knave for an honest man. We will therefore say nothing more

236 TWELFTH REUNION OF THE

about his muster out than that we can cheerfully believe he has
received deserved promotion. I pass all that by, and have re-
course to the personal pronoun — I. I can't avoid it, for thereby
can be proved the truth of the worn adage, that "truth is stranger
than fiction."

In the exciting debate at Mission Ridge, on November 25,
1863, I had the honor to receive the compliments of certain un-
known gentlemen whose views differed radically from my own on
the question at issue, — that is to say, I courteously accepted
the salute of two minie balls, one of them in my right arm, the
other through my right breast, cutting one of my lungs so that
"the subsequent proceedings" were not illuminated by my fur-
ther participation. In fact, I was knocked over. On looking
round I saw our friend Tom Cole gallantly pressing his way up
the fiery slope. He, seeing me, cried out: "Hello, old man,
what's the matter?" In reply, I said ; "What's the matter with
you? Drop down, and bring me your canteen." The place was
not healthy, — not a favorite resort for life insurance agents.
However, Tom did drop down, and, creeping to my side, he
handed me his canteen of water, a drink of which was what I
most needed. Then, by way of cheering me up, he said: "Good-
bye, old man, I may not see you again;" and rejoined his com-
rades in pursuit -of the beaten foe. If it be thought that, in
speaking in so light a vein of our old comrade and friend, I am
offending the proprieties, it may be admitted that I am not con-
ventional. To this I can say that, recalling a conversation with
Tom occurring shortly before his death, we were agreed that re-
specting most funeral sermons the preacher, and not the depart-
ed, most deserved pity; that the tawdry pomp of funerals was
not alone an offense, but a burden of expense on many little able
to bear it, and that simplicity in the office of burying the dead
was a thing much to be commended ; all of which, begging par-
don for the inevitable and multitudinous ego, leads to this; that
I now wish to read a little poem by Miles O'Reilly, entitled,

THE CANTEEN.

" There are bonds of all sorts in this world of ours,
Fetters of friendship and ties of flowers,

And tiue lovers' knots I ween ;
The girl and the boy are bound by a kiss,
But there's never a bond, old friend, like this —
We have drunk from the same canteen.

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 237

It was sometimes water and sometimes milk,
And somtimes applejack, fine as silk:

But, whate'er the tipple has been,
We shared it together in bane or bliss,
And I warm to you, friend, when I think of this —

We have drunk from the same canteen.

The rich and the great sit down to dine,

And they quaff to each other in sparkling wine,

From glasses of crystal and green ;
But I guess, in their golden potations, they miss
The warmth of regard to be found in this —

We have drunk from the same canteen.

We have shared our blankets and tents together,
And have marched and fought in all kinds of weather,

And hungry and full have we been —
Had days of battle and days of rest ;
But this memory I cling to and love the best —

We have drunk from the same canteen.

For! when wounded I lay on the outer slope,

With my blood flowing fast, and with but little hope

Upon which my faint spirit could lean,
O, then, I remember, you crawled to my side,
And, bleeding so fast, it seemed both must have died,

We drank from the same canteen.

It was resolved to hold the next — the thirteenth reunion of
the regiment — at Rockford, 111., on June 10, 1901, or as near
that date as, in the opinion of the officers, may be practicable.
The election of officers resulted as follows:

JOHN H. SHERRATT, President.

VICE-PRESIDENTS.

James S. Cowen Company A

A. W. Thompson " B

Robert Simpson " C

Chauncey T. Ray " D

James L. Sherman " E

Levi S. Sanders " F

John Kelly G

Oscar Franklin " H

D. G. Spaulding " 1

J. M. Fraley « K

HOSMER P. HOLLAND, Secretary.

JOHN W. BEATSON, Treasurer.

238 TWELFTH REUNION OF THE

On motion, the president, secretary and treasurer were ap-
pointed a committee to compile, publish in pamphlet form and
mail to members of the regiment, the proceedings of the elev-
enth and twelfth reunions of survivors.

EVENING SESSION.

At 7:30 p. m., for the camp-fire, the hall of Nevius Post
No. 1, G. A. R., was densely packed with members of the regi-
ment and their friends. The proceedings were much enlivened
at intervals of the program, by songs of the Temple Quartet,
who cheerfully, and to the pleasure of all, swelled their throats
and expanded their lungs "without money and without price."
President Sherratt first introduced Mayor E. W. Brown, who
welcomed survivors of the regiment in eloquent and fervid words,
which, to our regret, were not reported. In response, W. H.
Brydges, Co. K, of Elgin, 111., spoke as follows:

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: Thirty-seven years
ago our country was in danger, its very existence was threatened.
The great-hearted Lincoln called for defenders. Quickly, from
the farms, the workshops, the schools and the homes of this
beautiful Rock River valley, came the response, "We are com-
ing, Father Abraham."

In yonder camp these gathering guardians of national unity,
;of national life, were organized, schooled and disciplined for im-
pending duties.

For whatever success attended our efforts in the field, for
whatever comforts we enjoyed in the camp, we are largely indebt-
ed to those loyal men and women who remained at home. Their
thoughts and sympathies were ever with us, in sunshine and in
storm. By word and deed they sought to mitigate our suffer-
ings and strengthen us for coming conflicts.

To the songwriters who made it possible for us to sing, "We
are the Gay and Happy Suckers from the State of Illinois,"
"We will Rally Round the Flag, Boys," "We are Coming, Fa-
ther Abraham, Three Hundred Thousand More," and many
others, we acknowledge our deep indebtedness.

Mr. Mayor, this occasion, your kind words and hearty wel-
come awaken within us tender memories of by- gone days, some
of them sad, some of them joyous.

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 239

While in Camp Fuller, the citizens of Rockford were our
friends, and .their friendship deepened through the intervening
years. On that memorable Sunday morning, when we started
for the front, their good-bye evinced a tender solicitude. Their
hopes and prayers followed us in all our hardships' and dangers.
Many an encouraging letter and loving deed attested their sym-
pathy and their devotion to the cause which we had espoused.
When our regimental flag became tattered and torn, and begrimed
by the smoke of battle, they sent us a new one, which soon re-
ceived its fiery baptism. Our brave boys, at fearful cost,-carried
it up the slopes, and planted it on the very crest of Missionary
Ridge, amid shot and shell and the shouts of victory. When
the conflict was over, and the surviving remnant returned in
honor, your citizens gave them such a welcome, such evidences
of appreciation, that the occasion will never be forgotten. Many
times since we have shared their generous hospitality.

Coming from our scattered homes to this glad reunion, we
are pleased to meet and greet each other again in the city that
has ever befriended us; in the city whose intelligence and enter-
prise have made it a leader in prosperity and progress. As you
extend to us renewed congratulations, and, in the name of your
fellow citizens, bid us welcome, we humbly bow in grateful re-
cognition of their continued kindnesses, and their sacrifices in
behalf of liberty and national unity. The members of our regi-
ment desire to so live and act, during their remaining years, that
they will be ever welcome to your city and your homes.

The Seven.ty-fourth does not claim to have put down the
rebellion, but, in common with the many regiments gathered
from the broad prairies of this great commonwealth, it tried to
do its duty, and it feels a pardonable pride in the record of its
achievements.

More than a generation has passed since we were formally
mustered into the service of the United States. Our deeds as
soldiers and as civilians have become a part of the history of the
country, a part of the nation's life and character. As patriotic
citizens we must be loyal to every factor of national greatness.
While we recount our nation's achievements, and magnify her
possibilties. we must not forget that she is beset by dangers seen
and unseen. Eternal vigilance must continue to be our watch-
word. Great governmental and industrial problems confront us,

240 TWELFTH REUNION OF THE

demanding a just and lasting solution. Our country must be
kept in the vanguard of nations, by banishing her. weaknesses
and fostering her virtues.

My comrades, you were soldiers in the greatest war of his-
tory; actors in the grandest drama of the ages. When peace
came in her matchless splendor, you quietly returned to the pur-
suits of civil life. For these many years you have played your
part in the country's development. You have shown your devo-
tion to her highest interests, and added new luster and a deeper
meaning to the beautiful folds of "old glory." Our ranks are
thinning, our working hours are rapidly passing. Let us culti-
vate a closer comradeship, and a broader charity. Let us stand
together and touch elbows in the cause of liberty and humanity,
true to the right "as God gives us to see the right." Then, as
we view the glories of the past and turn to the beckoning future,
there will come the pleasing assurance that, as humble workers,
we have been contributors to the greatness and grandeur of that
country, whose flag is respected on the land and on the sea, and
which stands peerless among the nations.

Remarks were also made by the following gentlemen,
among others, who gallantly answered the call of comrades:
Rev. W. H. Spencer, Kev. D. R. Lucas, ex-chaplain-in-chief of
the G. A. R., Hon. R. R. Hitt, Col. Thos. G. Lawler, John H.
Sherratt, and Judge H. V. Freeman, of Chicago. Quincy A.
Sloan, Co. C, of McGregor, Iowa, then read the following paper,
concluding the series in the history of the regiment.

LAST SERVICE AND MUSTER OUT.

BY QUINCY A. SLOAN.

About September 1st, I received a request from the presi-
dent of the Seventy-fourth Regimental Association to write the
history of the regiment from the close of the battles of Nashville
to our muster out and home coming.

Situated as I am, at a distance from any members of the
regiment, and unable to consult and advise with them in regard
to events during that time, my first thought was that I could not
comply with the request. However, after considering the mat-
ter for a day or two, I wrote the president that I would prepare
a short paper as best I could. Having a journal covering the

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 241

entire period embraced in this paper, I am certain that so far as
dates and locality are concerned it is correct, however deficient
it may be in other particulars.

The fighting history of the Seventy-fourth was practically
ended with the paper read at our last reunion, covering the two
days' battle of Nashville, December 15 and 16, 1864.

Gen. Thomas lost no time in instituting a vigorous pursuit
of Gen. Hood's demoralized army after the great victory at
Nashville.

At daylight, on the morning of the 17th, the federal troops
were in motion.

Gen. T. J. Wood's Fourth corps, to which the Seventy-
fourth belonged, moved out on the Franklin Pike. Rain set in
on the 17th, and continued for several days, making the dirt
roads of the country very difficult for the movement of artillery
and wagon trains.

The flying fragments of Hood's army were closely pressed
by Thomas' advance, and large numbers of prisoners, artillery
and small arms were brought in every day to augment the al-
ready great victory of the two days' battle. When we saw the
thousands of prisoners taken by our army we were led to exclaim:
"Did any of them get away?"

The line of retreat from Brentwood Hills to the Tennessee
River was literally strewn with abandoned wagons, artillery, small
arms and camp equipage of every description, showing how com-
plete had been the demoralization and confusion of the rebel
troops.

Gen. Hood, by skillful management of his pontoons, was
successful in crossing the swollen streams and taking up his
bridges before our advance could come up to him.

The Fourth corps halted late in the afternoon of the 17th,
opposite Franklin, on the north bank of the Harpeth river. The
next morning we crossed the Harpeth and passed through Frank-
lin and over the battlefield of November 30, which still showed
evidences of the fearful carnage of that terrible conflict.

Gen. Thomas pushed forward as rapidly as the conditions
would permit through Spring Hill and Columbia. On Christ-
mas morning, the enemy, with our cavalry at his heels, evacu-
ated Pulaski, Tenn.

242 TWELFTH REUNION OF THE

Chrismas morning found our division camped near the
Franklin Pike, about five miles from Pulaski.

I well remember a large squad of "Johnnies" being march-
ed to the rear, many of them nearly or quite bare foot and very
scantily clad generally. As our boys saluted them with "Merry
Christmas," they came back at us with the popular Southern
phrase, ' ' Christmas gift. ' ' They seemed to be happy even in their
misery.

The advance of our army had a number of light skirmishes
with Hood's rear guard, but the enemy made no determined ef-
fort to impede our advance, and on the night of December 27,
Hood succeeded in crossing Tennessee River, with the remnant
of his army, at Bainbridge, Ala.

The Fourth corps kept well up with the cavalry, camping
on the night of the 25th six miles out of Pulaski, on the Lamb's
Ferry Road.

Pushing on, we reached Lexington, Ala., on the 28th, on
which date Gen. Thomas, having definitely ascertained that
Hood had made good his escape across the Tennessee River*

gi

directed further pursuit to cease.

The weather had changed on the 21st from dismal rain to
bitter cold, which lasted until January 1st, with a light fall of
snow.

While in camp, near Lexington, we heard the glad news of
Sherman's capture of Savannah on the 21st inst.

On December 29th, Gen. Thomas, in general orders No.
169, announced the successful termination of the campaign, and
complimented the army upon the work accomplished.

January 1st, 1865, found us in camp at Sugar Creek Valley,
one of those fertile regions of Northern Alabama. Owing to the
condition of the roads, our supply trains were far in the rear,
and consequently regular army rations were played out. Orders
were issued for the army to forage off the country, (an entirely
unnecessary order in my opinion.) The country about us was
very rich in all the products of that section, and the result was
that after the foraging parties all reported back to camp, we were
well provided with all kinds of fresh and salt meats, flour, sweet
potatoes, honey, sorghum, dried fruits, etc., etc., sufficient to
last us a week or more. When we marched again on the third

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 243

of January we were obliged to leave a large part of our provisions
behind.

Gen. Thomas had, in general orders, directed the disposi-
tion of his army as follows: Gen. A. J. Smith's corps to go to
Eastport, Miss.; Gen. Wood's corps to concentrate at Athens
and Huntsville, Ala.; Gen. Schofield to proceed to Dalton, Ga.;
Wilson's cavalry to be deployed from Eastport to Huntsville.

The Fourth corps broke camp on the third of January, and
started for Athens and Huntsville.

Our division (the Second) reached Huntsville on January 5th,
1865, and went into camp about one mile northwest from the
city, where we remained all winter.

Our camp at Huntsville was one of the most pleasant and
comfortable during our term of service. We built very conven-
ient log cabins with brick chimneys, using our shelter tents for
roofs. During our stay here we were frequently sent on foraging
and other details.

Our regimental chaplain, the late Rev. Pettibone, together
with the chaplain of the Twenty-fourth Wisconsin, erected a very
comfortable chapel, where regular services were held Sunday
and often on evenings during the week.

The weather during the winter was cold and dry, and the
health of the regiment almost perfect.

On the morning of March 28th, we received orders to pre-
pare to move immediately for Knoxville, Tenn. We marched
to the depot and boarded a freight train. Daylight the next
morning found us at Chattanooga. After a short stop we moved
on toward Knoxville. When two and one half miles beyond
Cleveland, we came up with the baggage train, with six cars in
the ditch. One man from the Eighty-eighth Illinois was killed,
and quite a number injured, among whom were three from the
Seventy-fourth. After the track was cleared our train moved on,
reaching Knoxville about noon on the 30th, where we remained
until late in the evening of the 31st.

At noon, April 1st, we arrived at Bull's Gap, fifty-five miles
from Knoxville, and went into camp about one mile beyond the

gap-

April 3rd we received telegrams announcing the capture of
Richmond and Petersburg. A salute of one hundred guns was
fired from corps headquarters, and the glad shouts from the

244 TWELFTH REUNION OF THE

many camps made the old hills of East Tennessee resound to
the joyful news.

We moved camp on the 4th to Blue Springs, eight miles
east of the gap. Here, in this picturesque camp, we had occa-
sion for a renewal of our expressions of joy at the announcement
of Lee's surrender of the entire army of Northern Virginia.

While we were still rejoicing over Grant's victories, our joy
was suddenly turned to mourning, as, on the 15th inst. , we
heard the sad news of President Lincoln's assassination. I think
it is not exaggerating to say that if every man had heard of the
death of his own father the grief could not have been much
greater.

The object of the campaign into East Tennessee having
been to repair the railroad and move east through WestVirginia,
to co-operate with Gen. Grant's forces, was now rendered un-
necessary.

On April 22nd we again boarded freight trains and started
for Nashville, where we arrived, after an uneventful but very
tedious ride, on the 24th.

Our division marched east on the Charlotte Pike, and went
into camp on the left of the pike about three miles from the city.

The Seventy-fourth remained in this camp until June llth.
During our stay here we put in our time strolling over the battle-
fields and plantations surrounding the city. A place of much
interest to us was the Gen. Harding plantation on the Harding
Pike, since known as the famous Bell Mead Stock Farm. Gen.
Opdycke, commanding our brigade, kept us at regiment and
brigade drill two or three times a week, very much to our dis-
gust.

On the first of June orders were received for the muster-out
of the Seventy-fourth. During the next few days the regimental
and company officers were very busy making out the muster-out
rolls for the regiment.

Everything being in readiness, the Seventy-fourth marched
at 1:00 o'clockon the morning of the llth to Nashville, and took
the cars for Louisville, where we arrived at 5:00 o'clock p. m.
We got our supper at the soldiers' home and crossed the Ohio
to Jeffersonville, Ind., and left at one o'clock next morning for
Indianapolis, where we arrived at 6:00 a. m. on the 12th. We

SEVENTY-FOURTH ILL. REGIMENT. 245

spent the day in the city and heard a good speech from Gov.
Morton.

We left Indianapolis at 10:00 p. m. for Chicago, and arrived
in the city of our own great state at 10:00 o'clock a. m.f on the
thirteenth of June. The Seventy-fourth was received by a salute
from the artillery, and an excellent dinner was provided for us
at the soldiers' home. After dinner we visited the sanitary fair
and heard speeches from Gen. Sherman, Gov. Yates and others.

Late in the afternoon the regiment marched to Camp Doug-
las and went into quarters. Camp Douglas was at that time on
the extreme southern limits of the city. South of the camp were
only a few scattering farm houses, and one partly completed
building of what is now the Chicago University.

We were detained at Camp Douglas until June 28th, wait-
ing for our pay and final discharge. During this time many of
the regiment visited Rockford, or their homes in other places.

On the morning of the 28th we marched to the paymaster's
office on Kinzie street, and received our pay and discharge.

At 4:00 o'clock p. m., Maj. Remington, with about one hun-
dred and twenty-five members of the Seventy-fourth, started for
Rockford. We received, a warm welcome from the citizens of
Rockford, and were marched to the Holland House and served
with a bounteous supper, after which the boys separated, to meet
no more as a military organization.

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA

REUNION PROCEEDINGS AND HISTORY OF THE R